The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned opposition parties against what it described as misleading and emotionally charged narratives surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the amended Electoral Act 2026, recently passed by the National Assembly.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday, Lagos APC Spokesman, Seye Oladejo, expressed concern over what he termed an “orchestrated hysteria” by sections of the opposition in reaction to the President’s decision.
“The Lagos State Chapter of the APC views with undisguised disappointment the exaggerated and misleading commentary that has followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the Electoral Act 2026,” Oladejo said. “Governance is neither a popularity contest nor a stage for digital propaganda. It is a constitutional responsibility undertaken with sobriety and in the best interest of the Nigerian people.”
Oladejo dismissed claims suggesting that Nigeria had ignored successful real-time transmission models used in other democracies, describing such arguments as selective and incomplete.
According to him, experiences from several jurisdictions where similar systems were tested revealed significant technological glitches, legal uncertainties, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and, in some cases, judicial reversals.
“Across various democracies, attempts to implement comparable systems exposed structural weaknesses that underscore the dangers of prioritising political expediency over systemic integrity,” he stated. “Yet, some opposition voices continue to promote half-truths as settled facts.”
The APC spokesman also challenged what he described as the opposition’s assumption of “exclusive wisdom” on electoral reforms.
“What kind of democracy presumes that only the opposition holds a monopoly on reform ideas?” he queried. “Electoral reform is not the intellectual preserve of any one group—particularly those whose own record in public administration has been marked by inconsistency.”
Oladejo emphasised that the President’s assent followed due constitutional process, robust legislative debate, and broad institutional consultation.
“President Tinubu’s decision reflects prudence, not panic,” he said. “Reforms must be carefully considered, legally sound, and sustainable. They cannot and should not be shaped by social media trends or reactionary pressure.”
He further warned against weaponising public sentiment, stressing that democracy flourishes on credibility, institutional strength, and foresight.
“Electoral integrity cannot be anchored on fragile systems designed for headlines rather than durability. Responsible leadership demands that risks be anticipated and mitigated before they evolve into crises. Nigerians deserve reforms that fortify institutions—not experiments that could undermine them.”
While affirming the essential role of opposition in a democratic system, Oladejo cautioned against what he described as distortion and sensationalism.
“Opposition is indispensable in any thriving democracy,” he said. “But it must be constructive, not corrosive. Those who failed to build enduring electoral confidence when given the opportunity should exercise restraint before casting aspersions on efforts aimed at strengthening it.
“Governance transcends emotion. It requires maturity over melodrama, substance over spectacle, and the national interest above partisan narratives.”
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