The Presidency on Thursday dismissed allegations by opposition parties over the recently amended Electoral Act, describing their claims as politically motivated and misleading.
In a statement, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, criticised opposition figures, including members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), for what he described as “reckless allegations” against the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the Presidency, the National Assembly’s amendment to the Electoral Act is designed to address practical election realities, allowing for real-time transmission of results while validating Form EC8A as a backup in case of network failure. Onanuga said claims that the measure creates loopholes for manipulation are “illogical” and “misleading.”
He also clarified the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Results Viewing Portal (IReV), emphasising that it is a platform for public viewing of results and not a collation centre. The statement noted that Form EC8 remains the primary legal document for validating election outcomes.
The Presidency defended the inclusion of direct primaries and consensus voting, describing the move as a step toward broader party democracy and the elimination of the corrupt delegate system. Onanuga said the National Assembly consulted widely with stakeholders, technical experts, and millions of Nigerians over a two-year period before finalising the amendments.
Responding to claims that President Tinubu intends to create a one-party state, the statement described the allegations as “unfounded,” pointing out that Nigeria remains a multiparty democracy with more than a dozen registered parties, including ADC and NNPP.
The Presidency concluded that the new Electoral Act strengthens safeguards against manipulation, enhances transparency, and urged opposition parties to focus on improving their internal organisation rather than “constant lamentation and unwarranted outrage.”
