The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has thrown its full support behind President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment), dismissing critics as “noisemakers” driven by sentiment rather than substance.
In a statement released Thursday, the Lagos APC accused critics of opportunism disguised as patriotism, noting that demands for “absolute technological guarantees” ignored Nigeria’s infrastructure disparities and constitutional and logistical realities.
President Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, barely 24 hours after both chambers of the National Assembly passed the contentious legislation. The swift assent has sparked fierce criticism from opposition parties and civil society organizations who describe it as a setback to democratic progress.
The most controversial provision in the new law makes electronic transmission of election results optional rather than mandatory, a clause that has generated widespread opposition from pro-democracy groups who argue it creates loopholes for electoral manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, Lagos APC queried: “What manner of democracy suggests that the opposition alone possesses superior wisdom?” insisting that electoral reform is not the exclusive preserve of any political bloc.
The statement maintained that Tinubu’s assent reflected prudence, underscoring the need for reforms that are thoughtful, sustainable, and legally defensible.
The ruling party in Lagos also took a swipe at opposition critics, cautioning that those who failed to build durable electoral confidence while in office should refrain from lecturing others.
“Governance transcends emotion. It demands maturity over melodrama, substance over spectacle, and nation over narrative,” the statement concluded.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the signing, alleging that the APC’s fear of losing the 2027 elections drove what it described as the rushed approval of the legislation. Civil society organization Yiaga Africa also criticized the development as “a missed opportunity for the transformative electoral reform that Nigeria requires.”
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, however, praised President Tinubu for the swift assent, describing it as evidence of commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process. He said the President’s action had ended what he called “unnecessary protests by those preparing excuses for electoral defeat.”
During the signing ceremony, President Tinubu defended the optional electronic transmission clause, citing concerns about Nigeria’s broadband infrastructure and technical capacity. He emphasized that elections remain “essentially manual” with ballot papers and physical counting.
The new Electoral Act 2026 will provide the legal framework for the conduct of the 2027 general elections scheduled for February 20 for presidential and National Assembly polls, and March 6 for governorship and state assembly elections.