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.”