…Vows to mobilize Nigerians
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of undermining Nigeria’s democratic process following his assent to the amended Electoral Act, vowing to mobilise citizens to defend the integrity of future elections.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi on Thursday, the opposition party described the president’s action as “alarmingly speedy”. It alleged that the amendment could weaken confidence in the electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party said the president ignored widespread public concerns before signing the bill into law, arguing that the move raises questions about the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s commitment to transparent elections.
“With the alarmingly speedy assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the death warrant on credible elections and by so doing set Nigeria’s democracy back by several decades,” the ADC said.
The party further criticised what it called the introduction of ambiguity into the process of collation and transmission of election results, insisting that Nigerians across political divides had demanded stronger electoral safeguards and full modernisation of the voting system.
According to the ADC, the president’s claim that the amendment would consolidate democracy does not align with the perceived implications of the new provisions.
“In signing the bill into law, the President claimed to be consolidating the country’s democracy, but in reality, he has simply corrupted it further by introducing ambiguity and permitting excessive discretion in the collation and transmission process,” the statement added.
The party also questioned the urgency with which the amendment was processed and signed, noting that the APC controls a majority of state governments and both chambers of the National Assembly.
“It is quite instructive that despite claiming to control more than 30 state governments… the extraordinary haste with which this amendment was passed and signed raises the unavoidable question” about the government’s confidence in a transparent electoral contest, the party stated.
The ADC warned that the development could heighten political tension in future elections if citizens lose faith in institutional safeguards.
“In the absence of firm guarantees of electronic transparency, vigilant citizens may feel compelled to physically safeguard their votes to prevent discrepancies between polling units and collation centres, as has been witnessed in the past,” the party cautioned.
While reaffirming its commitment to democratic principles, the ADC declared that it would mobilise Nigerians through lawful means to protect the sanctity of the ballot.
“As a duly constituted political party… the ADC affirms in the strongest and clearest possible terms that we are ready, willing, and prepared to defend the sanctity of Nigeria’s democracy using every constitutional and lawful means available to us,” the statement said.
The party emphasised that its planned mobilisation would focus on vigilance, lawful participation, and national unity, stressing that democratic authority ultimately rests with the electorate.
“We will mobilize Nigerians toward vigilance, toward lawful participation, and toward unity in defense of their constitutional rights,” Abdullahi said.
