Opposition parties and civil society groups have criticised President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment), warning that the new law could undermine transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu assented to the bill around 5pm on Wednesday at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, in the presence of senior National Assembly officials. The move came less than 24 hours after both chambers of the legislature passed the amendment.
During the signing ceremony, the President expressed reservations about Nigeria’s broadband infrastructure and technical readiness to support real-time electronic transmission of election results, even as he approved the legislation.
However, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the development as “a dark day for democracy.”
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) rushed the amendment out of fear of losing the 2027 elections.
“The hurried grant of presidential assent to the contentious bill, as passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, despite widespread opposition from Nigerians, confirms that this was a well-choreographed drama by the APC,” Ememobong said.
“The party’s fear of inevitable defeat in a free and fair election is palpable, and they can no longer conceal it. This is indeed a sad day for democracy.
“The Nigerian people have been dealt a bad hand, one that existentially threatens democratic governance. The President has demonstrated an inability to rise above partisanship in the art of governance.”
Civil society organisations also voiced concern that the amendment could weaken electoral safeguards and erode public trust in the democratic process.
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