Nyesom Wike, serving as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has called out the former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and other opposition figures, accusing them of hypocrisy in their criticism of the newly signed 2026 Electoral Act.
During a media briefing held on Monday, March 2, Wike addressed the opposition's concerns regarding a clause in the Act that allows for manual transmission of electoral results in instances where electronic means are hindered by inadequate network coverage. He highlighted that Amaechi had previously opposed electronic result transmission while in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, questioning his current push for its full implementation.
"During Buhari's tenure, the topic of electronic transmission arose. Individuals such as Rotimi Amaechi, part of the government at that time, opposed it, claiming that signing it would jeopardize their election chances. Now, that same individual is publicly advocating for electronic transmission, despite previously rejecting it due to concerns over its impact on his political leader," Wike stated.
Wike stressed that the new Electoral Act does not eliminate the possibility of electronic transmission; instead, it includes measures to ensure that votes cast in areas with poor connectivity are counted. "Currently, the law does not declare that electronic transmission is banned; rather, it stipulates a contingency plan to avoid disenfranchising voters in areas with connectivity issues," he asserted.
He further discussed the ongoing debate regarding the requirement for political parties to utilize direct primaries, stating that this change aims to reduce the influence of prominent figures within party systems.
Wike pointed out that indirect primaries have historically permitted governors and affluent political figures to exert excessive control over the candidate selection process. He characterized critics as "professional complainants," implying that they had previously condemned indirect primaries for consolidating power among party elites and wealthy individuals.
In response, opposition parties such as the African Democratic Congress and the New Nigeria Peoples Party have urged the National Assembly to consider amending what they describe as "detestable clauses" within the 2026 Electoral Act.
They contend that the law, recently signed by President Bola Tinubu, features provisions that exhibit anti-democratic tendencies, potentially endangering electoral integrity and public trust in the voting framework. The ongoing discussions concerning electronic transmission and party primaries are expected to escalate as various stakeholders advocate for further legislative changes in preparation for the upcoming electoral cycle.
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