Politics
ADC, NNPP Reject Electoral Act 2026, Vow to Resist Implementation
Leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have formally rejected the recently passed Electoral Act 2026, branding it anti-democratic and a threat to competitive politics ahead of the 2027 general elections. The bill was passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier this month.
Opposition Press Conference in Abuja
At a press briefing held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja on February 26, ADC and NNPP leaders insisted they will use all constitutional means to resist the implementation of the new law. They argued that provisions in the Electoral Act could weaken electoral transparency and empower the ruling party, accusing the legislature and executive of rushing the law through without adequate stakeholder engagement.
Prominent opposition figures at the briefing included:
- Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar
- Former Anambra Governor Peter Obi
- Former Minister Rotimi Amaechi
- ADC National Chairman David Mark
- NNPP National Chairman Ajuri Ngelale
Other attendees included former lawmakers and party officials such as Linda Ukeje, Dino Melaye, Bolaji Abdullahi, Buba Galadima, Lawal Batagarawa, Salihu Lukman, and Yunusa Tanko.
Despite more than 20 opposition parties in Nigeria, only ADC and NNPP participated in the coordinated rejection event, highlighting limited cross-party alignment against the act.
Key Points of Contention
According to NNPP’s Ajuri Ahmed, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is allegedly aiming to position President Tinubu as the only credible presidential candidate for 2027 by shaping the legal framework in its favor. Ahmed questioned why provisions allowing manual collation of results, even when transmission technology is available at polling units, were included in the Act.
He also expressed surprise at how quickly the president assented to the bill compared with other recent legislation. In his view, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections — the first major test under the new framework — revealed weaknesses in the leadership of the national electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Broader Context
The FCT election results have already drawn criticism from opposition and civil society, with reports of low turnout and backlash against the Electoral Act 2026 dominating political conversations after the APC won five of six council seats. Analysts say the elections served as an early indicator of how contentious electoral reforms could shape future polls.
Civil society organizations have also warned that the FCT polls will test the implementation of the Electoral Act and INEC’s readiness for the 2027 general elections.
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