The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned the amendment to the Electoral Act 2026 recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as a serious blow to democratic principles and the integrity of the ballot.
In a statement released on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the opposition party accused the National Assembly of subverting the will of Nigerians by altering provisions that previously mandated the electronic transmission of election results directly from polling units.
President Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission unveiled the timetable for the 2027 general elections. The signing ceremony took place around 5:00 pm at the Presidential Villa, in the presence of top National Assembly officials, a day after lawmakers passed the amendment bill.
The revised law has since ignited widespread public debate, particularly over concerns that it weakens guarantees for real-time electronic transmission of results.
Reacting to the development, the PDP said the amendment represents a profound breach of public trust, insisting that Nigerians had unequivocally demanded transparent, technology-driven electoral processes.
PDP stated, “The anti-democratic stance of the Senate and the sudden somersault by the House of Representatives on the amendment of the Electoral Act 2022, specifically on the mandatory electronic transmission of election results from the polling units, is an act of treachery against the Nigerian electorate.
“This betrayal is most painful because it strikes at the core of democracy and electoral sanctity.
“The shocking aspect of the whole drama is the brazen manner in which the legislators acted they clearly showed disdain for the Nigerian people who voted them into office by openly challenging the supremacy of the voters. The excuses advanced for inserting this obnoxious proviso are weak, illogical, and insulting to the intelligence of Nigerians.
“When lawmakers begin to dilute transparency mechanisms ahead of elections, only one conclusion is rational: there is a calculated attempt to create room for electoral manipulation. By this act, the National Assembly has violated the foundation of legislative representation, which is anchored on mirroring the wishes of the majority of their constituents. This is a painful betrayal, which the people will certainly repay in equal, if not heavier, measures.”
The PDP also criticised the amendment’s restriction of party primaries to Direct and Consensus methods, arguing that such provisions intrude into the internal affairs of political parties.
It continued, “The Supreme Court has consistently affirmed that political parties possess autonomy in managing their internal processes. This provision is therefore ultra vires, and the attempt to constrict political parties is condemnable.
“Additionally, if the ruling party truly believes it enjoys the support it claims, it should welcome every mechanism that guarantees transparency. Their shameless support for this anomaly shows their fear of impending defeat in a free and fair election. It is most shameful that a party that demanded electronic voting in 2015 is now unwilling and unprepared to have electronic transmission of results—this is a crying shame.”
