The Presidency has rejected claims by opposition parties that amendments to the Electoral Act 2026 create room for electoral manipulation, insisting that the new law strengthens Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the allegations against President Bola Tinubu and the APC-led Federal Government as “reckless” and “spurious.”
“Working in cahoots with some civil society groups, the opposition has waged a relentless war of disinformation against the National Assembly and the administration, making false allegations in a bid to impose their will on Nigerians and the legislature, the arm of government constitutionally empowered to make laws for the country’s good governance,” the statement read in part.
The reaction follows comments by opposition leaders at a joint press conference in Abuja where they criticised key provisions of the amended Electoral Act.
Responding to concerns over the recognition of Form EC8A as a backup in the event of failure in the real-time transmission of results, the Presidency said the opposition’s claim that the provision creates a loophole for manipulation “is illogical and a needless tantrum by those who should know better.”
“The 2026 Electoral Act does not prohibit real-time transmission; it simply stipulates that if transmission fails, the result recorded on Form EC8A shall be deemed valid,” the statement said, noting that network glitches remain a practical reality.
The Presidency also clarified the role of the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV), stating that “IReV is not a collation centre; it is a platform for uploading results for public viewing,” and maintained that “the primary source for validating election results remains Form EC8.”
On the issue of party primaries, the statement defended the inclusion of direct primaries and consensus voting, questioning why the opposition was opposed to the removal of the delegate-based system. “No aspirant should fear participation by party members in the primaries,” it added.
Addressing claims that the National Assembly ignored public opinion, the Presidency said lawmakers “listened to various stakeholders, technical experts, and millions of Nigerians” over a two-year period before enacting the law.
It further dismissed allegations that the administration is seeking to entrench a one-party state, describing such claims as “cheap shots” and maintaining that Nigeria remains a vibrant multiparty democracy.