Presidency Accuses ADC, NNPP of Spreading Disinformation Over Electoral Act Amendment

The presidency has dismissed allegations by opposition parties concerning the recently amended Electoral Act, describing their claims as misleading and politically motivated.

In a statement issued on February 26, 2026, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, criticised leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for what he termed “reckless and spurious allegations” against President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.

The opposition parties had raised concerns over certain provisions in the amended Electoral Act, particularly the inclusion of Form EC8A as a backup in cases where real-time electronic transmission of results fails.

Responding to the criticism, the Presidency said the amendment does not prohibit real-time transmission of election results but provides a contingency plan in the event of technical or network challenges. It maintained that Form EC8A remains a primary source document for validating election results.

The statement also clarified the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Results Viewing Portal (IReV), noting that it is meant for public viewing of uploaded results and not for official collation.

On the issue of party primaries, the presidency defended the provision for direct primaries and consensus arrangements, arguing that the system promotes broader participation by party members. It criticised the delegate-based system, which it described as prone to corruption.

The presidency further rejected claims that the amendment was pushed through without adequate consultation. According to the statement, the National Assembly engaged stakeholders, experts, and members of the public over a two-year period before passing the amendment.

Addressing accusations that President Tinubu aims to create a one-party state, the Presidency described the claim as unfounded, stressing that Nigeria remains a multiparty democracy with several registered political parties.

The statement concluded by asserting that the new Electoral Act strengthens Nigeria’s electoral framework and closes perceived loopholes in the previous law.