The presidency has categorically dismissed the claims made by opposition parties, especially the ADC, labeling them as reckless and unfounded. During a gathering in Abuja, leading figures from the ADC and NNPP made serious allegations against President Bola Tinubu and the APC-led federal government.
The presidency further remarked that the opposition has turned irresponsible political rhetoric into an art form, aiming solely to garner negative publicity and mislead the populace.
In collusion with certain civil society organizations, the opposition has allegedly engaged in a sustained campaign of disinformation targeting the National Assembly and the current administration. These groups have been accused of making baseless accusations as part of a strategy to enforce their will upon both the public and the legislative body, which is constitutionally designated to enact laws for Nigeria’s governance.
In light of the prevailing conditions in the country, the National Assembly has amended the Electoral Act to facilitate real-time transmission of election results while incorporating Form EC8A as a contingency in case of network failures. The assertion from the opposition that Form EC8A is a loophole for manipulation is deemed illogical and a mere tantrum from those who ought to be more discerning.
It is common knowledge amongst responsible Nigerians that network failures can occur. The 2026 Electoral Act does not ban real-time result transmission but specifies that in instances of transmission failure, the results documented on Form EC8A are considered valid.
Furthermore, the opposition's misunderstanding of the IReV (INEC Results Viewing Portal) must be addressed. The platform is designed for the public viewing of results and is not a collation center. The primary source for validating election outcomes continues to be Form EC8.
During their press conference, the opposition parties also condemned the use of direct primaries for candidate selection.
It is perplexing why they are upset with the inclusion of direct primaries and consensus options instead of complaining about the corrupt delegate system they seem to prefer. The opposition should appreciate the National Assembly's decision to eliminate delegate-based primaries, returning the process to the party members. This mirrors the ways candidates are selected by party members in the United States, from which our presidential system is derived.
The opposition's accusation that the National Assembly has disregarded the will of the people is wholly incorrect. According to the Senate majority leader, for two years, the assembly has been listening to a variety of stakeholders, technical experts, and millions of Nigerians who voiced concerns about the possibility of technical failures that could undermine the elections.
A repeated mantra from the disorganized opposition includes a false assertion that President Tinubu intends to establish a one-party state in Nigeria. Such groundless remarks betray their lack of substance and rationale. Nigeria is a dynamic multi-party democracy, boasting over a dozen registered parties, among them the ADC and NNPP. The opposition must refrain from exaggerating the implications of the new Electoral Act. Their struggle to organize effectively and their tendency to blame others for their own disarray are evident. President Tinubu is a proponent of democracy—having previously led an opposition movement that successfully ousted the PDP in 2015.
Contrary to their deliberate attempts to create civil unrest, the amended Electoral Act signed by President Tinubu represents a considerable improvement over the former legislation, effectively closing loopholes that opposition leaders previously sought to exploit for their gain.
In conclusion, the opposition's grievances arise from changes made to the rules that now shield the electoral process against manipulation, a tactic they are suspected of having mastered.
Instead of their continuous grievances and unfounded protests, leaders of the ADC and NNPP should be more reflective and work on rectifying their internal issues.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!