The political landscape in Nigeria is roiled this evening as key stakeholders — spanning opposition parties, civil society organisations (CSOs), human rights advocates and political analysts — continue to voice sharp criticism of the recently signed Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The legislation, which was assented into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier this month, was intended to overhaul Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 general elections. Instead, it has widened fault lines across the nation’s democratic institutions and sparked a fierce debate on the future of electoral integrity in the country.
Opposition parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) have expressed profound disappointment with both the content of the Act and the manner of its passage. Critics argue that lawmakers and the executive missed a crucial opportunity to embed robust transparency safeguards, particularly around the electronic transmission of election results — a reform championed by civil society and pro-democracy groups. They contend that crucial clauses that could have mandated real-time electronic result posting from polling units were watered down or framed to give undue discretion to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At a joint press briefing in Abuja this week, a coalition of CSOs — including Yiaga Africa, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, The Kukah Centre and others — described the new law as a “missed opportunity” that leaves “dangerous loopholes” in place ahead of the 2027 polls. They specifically criticised provisions that allow manual collation and fallback procedures where technology is said to have “failed,” lamenting that such ambiguity could be exploited to manipulate outcomes. They also raised concerns about compressed electoral timelines and the exclusion of non-INEC actors from initiating result reviews — moves they argue stifle accountability and diminish public confidence.
In addition to civil society protests, vocal political figures have taken to both formal platforms and mass demonstrations. Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, was seen at protests outside the National Assembly calling for the reinstatement of uncompromised electronic transmission clauses. Meanwhile, the ADC has vowed mass mobilisation to defend the integrity of future elections, accusing the presidency of weakening democratic safeguards through haste and limited consultation.
On the other side of the divide, ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) officials have defended the amendments, insisting that the National Assembly acted pragmatically given the country’s infrastructural realities. APC spokesman Felix Morka told broadcasters that the approach allows flexibility for INEC to integrate electronic systems while accounting for communication challenges across regions. Party loyalists also argue that the Act tightens penalties for electoral offences and strengthens accreditation systems, positioning these as steps toward enhancing electoral credibility.
As debate intensifies, the spotlight remains fixed on INEC. Observers say the commission’s implementation of the contentious provisions will be pivotal in determining public trust and the outlook for 2027. With major political actors calling for legal challenges and civic mobilisation, the controversy over the Electoral Act 2026 has become a defining issue in Nigeria’s democratic trajectory.