ADC, NNPP Accused of Peddling Falsehoods Over Electoral Act 2026 — Onanuga

The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has strongly criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for what he described as sustained and deliberate misinformation surrounding the Electoral Act 2026.

Onanuga’s remarks followed public statements by the two opposition parties, which condemned the amended law as “obnoxious,” anti-democratic, and an alleged attempt by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to impose a one-party system in Nigeria. The parties also called on the National Assembly to repeal and re-enact the legislation.

President Tinubu signed the Electoral Act amendment into law on February 18 after it was passed by the National Assembly, marking one of the most significant electoral reforms since the 2022 Electoral Act. The new law introduces provisions for electronic transmission of election results while retaining manual collation as a fallback option in areas where technological challenges, such as poor network coverage, make real-time transmission impossible.

In a detailed statement, Onanuga accused the opposition parties of engaging in “constant lamentation and unwarranted outrage,” arguing that their criticisms were driven more by political desperation than by genuine concern for democratic integrity.

“The opposition, particularly the ADC, has turned irresponsible political statements into an art form, all in a bid to attract cheap headlines and mislead the public,” he said. “Their inability to organise internally and their habit of blaming others for their own unpreparedness are now painfully obvious.”

Onanuga maintained that contrary to claims being circulated by the opposition, the Electoral Act 2026 represents a clear improvement over the repealed law. According to him, the amendments were designed to close loopholes that had previously been exploited for electoral malpractice, including result manipulation and procedural ambiguities.

Addressing concerns about result transmission, the presidential aide explained that the law provides for real-time electronic upload of polling unit results, with Form EC8A retained strictly as a backup where technology fails. He described as “illogical” the opposition’s claim that the use of manual forms automatically creates room for rigging, noting that network outages remain a reality in many parts of the country.

“Any reasonable Nigerian understands that network glitches are real,” Onanuga said. “The law reflects practical realities, not political fantasies.”

He also clarified misconceptions about the Independent National Electoral Commission’s results viewing portal, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to him, the IReV portal is not a collation centre but a transparency tool designed to allow the public view uploaded results, while Form EC8 remains the legally recognised primary document for result validation.

Onanuga further criticised the opposition’s rejection of direct primaries and consensus as modes of selecting party candidates, describing their resistance as puzzling. He argued that direct primaries are inherently more democratic than the delegate system, which has often been criticised for encouraging vote-buying and elite manipulation.

He revealed that lawmakers spent over two years consulting widely with stakeholders, technical experts, and citizens before finalising the amendments. These consultations, he said, took into account fears about technological failures and the need to balance innovation with reliability.

Rejecting allegations that the president intends to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, Onanuga noted that the country still has more than a dozen registered political parties operating freely. He insisted that the opposition’s real challenge lies in internal disorganisation rather than any government attempt to suppress dissent.

“In summary, the opposition is crying foul because the rules of the game have been adjusted to prevent manipulation, including result hacking, which some of them have allegedly perfected,” he said.

As debates over the Electoral Act 2026 continue, the controversy highlights deepening political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections, with both the ruling party and opposition seeking to shape public perception of Nigeria’s evolving electoral framework.