Electoral Act 2026: PDP condemns rushed assent, accusing Tinubu of legalizing election manipulation

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has condemned what it called rushed assent to the controversial Electoral Act Amendment, 2026 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of legalizing election manipulation ahead of 2027 general election.

The opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, Civil Society Organisations, and professionals have been condemning the passage of the electoral act which they believed has set in motion, manipulation and all forms of electoral malpractices.

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The PDP reacting on Wednesday night immediately the legislation was signed into law, saying, it was a threat to the country’s democracy, wondering, how could President Tinubu assented the bill which was passed on Tuesday in less than 12 hours without legal consultation.

CAPITAL POST reports that President Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law around 5pm on Wednesday at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, with senior National Assembly officials in attendance.
The Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives counterpart concluded the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026 around 4.pm on Tuesday.

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The opposition raised concerns over manual transmission of election results alongside the electronic transmission, which they believed would encourage rigging on flimsy excuse that there was no network for the exercise to be transmitted electronically.

After assented the bill, President Tinubu expressed concerns that Nigeria’s current broadband infrastructure and technical capacity to handle real-time electronic transmission of election results was grossly inadequate and ineffective.

The PDP’s National Scribe, Ini Ememobong in a statement described the development as “a dark day for democracy.”
He described as unfortunate the hurried assent to the controversial bill amid protests and stiff opposition by the well meaning individuals, confirmed that this well-choreographed drama by the APC.

“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.”

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