ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government of Nigeria in Abuja issued a sharp response on Friday to criticism of the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026, telling opposition parties to focus on organizing for future polls rather than disputing the framework.
Complaints about the act are numerous and cover such areas as electronic transmission of results, control of primaries, INEC powers, etc., some parts of which the lawmakers are saying is giving an advantage to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement from State House, the Presidency declared the law was passed through established legal processes and was the result of rigorous legislative deliberations in the National Assembly of Nigeria. The Presidency insisted that criticisms to the law made by people who, based on what they do, have no business attacking it would weaken institutions.
Criticisms of the act include elements related to electronic transmission of results, party primaries oversight, and the power of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), among other aspects which some lawmakers are claiming could shift procedural benefits to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Presidential aides stated that the law increases clarity in electoral timeframes and adjudication of election disputes. They asserted that if any section(s) were deemed faulty by any political party, then they could seek judicial interpretation through litigation, instead of engaging in media campaigns against the act.
Issues regarding the election laws have become characteristic in the Nigerian democracy process, as the electoral law has undergone amendments following each cycle of contested elections, civil societies have been keen on promoting greater transparency in electoral procedures, robust result transmission system, and more robust regulations on election funding.
Opposition figures expressed that the clauses would, if implemented as contained in the Electoral Act 2026, be burdensome to smaller parties to effectively participate in elections or could lead to procedural ambivalence, to which the presidency claimed competitiveness of election would depend on preparation by the parties rather than rules.
The INEC is yet to release a framework of the execution of the law for the off cycle elections in a couple of months to come; Legal pundits said legal challenges would soon occur if opposition parties contest sections.APC stated the presidency’s remarks were important to abort “early election season rhetoric”, whereas thePDP said that the bill would be reviewed.
