Leaders of Nigeria’s major opposition political parties, on Thursday, mounted a blistering attack on the Electoral Act 2026, describing it as anti-democratic and alleging that it was deliberately designed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the 2027 general elections.

Addressing a world press conference at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, the opposition coalition said the amended law, recently passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, poses grave danger to Nigeria’s democracy and could plunge the country into political crisis if not urgently reviewed.

The briefing, read by the National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ajuji Ahmed, was attended by key opposition figures, including National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, as well as Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi and Peter Obi, among others.

The opposition leaders declared that they had resolved to stand “shoulder to shoulder with Nigerians” to resist what they termed “obnoxious provisions” of the new Electoral Act, insisting that its implementation would undermine transparency, weaken democratic institutions and compromise the sanctity of the ballot.

They took particular exception to the proviso in Section 60(3) of the Act, which they argued grants sweeping discretionary powers to presiding officers in the transmission of election results.

According to them, the clause effectively negates mandatory electronic transmission of results from polling units by creating room for delays under the guise of network failure.

Citing past statements by former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, and former INEC Commissioner, Festus Okoye, the opposition maintained that the technological infrastructure for electronic transmission already exists and that network challenges could not justify weakening the process.

They also referenced data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), noting that Nigeria had attained over 95 per cent 2G coverage and millions of active internet subscriptions, which they said were sufficient to support real-time result transmission nationwide.

Regarding party primaries, the opposition rejected the amendment to Section 84 of the Act limiting parties to direct primaries and consensus for candidate selection. They described the provision as an unconstitutional encroachment on the autonomy of political parties and warned that it could destabilise opposition parties ahead of 2027.

According to them, indirect primaries remain a legitimate democratic option and should not be legislatively eliminated. They alleged that the restriction was a calculated attempt to create confusion within opposition ranks and pave the way for what they termed the “coronation” of President Tinubu in 2027.

The coalition further described the recent Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections as a “test-run” of what it called the APC’s rigging template for the next general elections.

They alleged discrepancies between votes recorded and accredited voters in some councils and condemned the polls as fraudulent.d

The opposition also expressed concern over what it termed historic low voter turnout in the FCT elections, with figures ranging between 7.2 per cent in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and about 15 per cent in other area councils. They described the trend as a vote of no confidence in the electoral system and a sign of growing public cynicism.

Beyond electoral concerns, the parties decried rising incidents of political violence, citing a recent attack on ADC leaders in Edo State and the killing of a party agent during the FCT election.

They warned that intolerance and thuggery pose serious threats to national stability and democratic consolidation.

The coalition also raised alarm over what it described as the “creeping weaponisation of the judiciary,” urging judicial officers to uphold neutrality and resist partisan pressures. It stressed that electoral outcomes should be determined by voters, not the courts.

Calling on the National Assembly to immediately commence a fresh amendment process, the opposition demanded the removal of all provisions they consider anti-democratic and inconsistent with the aspirations of Nigerians for credible elections.

They urged civil society organisations and citizens to join what they described as a collective effort to “save the world’s largest black democracy” from democratic backsliding.

“We are committed to defending your votes and ensuring that every vote counts,” the opposition leaders declared, pledging unity and vigilance ahead of the 2027 elections.

They called for national solidarity, insisting that restoring public trust in the electoral system remains essential to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic future.