Why opposition leaders are angry about 2026 Electoral Act – APC
Opposition Leaders Criticize 2026 Electoral Act Amid APC Defense
The All Progressives Congress (APC) defended the recent amendment to the 2026 Electoral Act, asserting that discontent among opposition leaders stems from their inability to leverage real-time result transmission to contest the upcoming 2027 elections.
Felix Morka, the party’s spokesperson, shared this perspective during a Thursday interview on Channels Television. Morka contended that prominent figures within the opposition expressed anger because the amendment disrupted what he described as a strategy aimed at invalidating elections in instances where real-time electronic transmission is not feasible.
“Let me quickly explain why Peter Obi, Buba Galadima, and others are upset about this amendment,” Morka stated. He accused the opposition of attempting to convince both the National Assembly and the public that failure to transmit results in real time would serve as grounds to invalidate the 2027 election outcome.
Morka emphasized that opposition leaders are aware of Nigeria’s inconsistent internet connectivity. “Buba Galadima knows, Atiku Abubakar knows, Peter Obi knows, and David Mark knows that connectivity is not universal in all areas and voting districts of Nigeria,” he said.
These remarks followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s formal signing of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026 into law on Thursday.
In response, leaders from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) denounced the amendment, labeling it anti-democratic and biased in favor of the ruling party as the nation approaches the 2027 elections.
During a press conference in Abuja, prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, called for an immediate review of the new law.
However, the Senate promptly dismissed these demands, advising the opposition leaders to raise their concerns through the proper legislative channels within the National Assembly.
