We Will Mobilize Nigerians to Defend Democracy, ADC Tells Tinubu
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sharply criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, declaring that the party will mobilise Nigerians to defend the country’s democracy through lawful and constitutional means.
In a statement issued on 19 February 2026 and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party accused the President of undermining electoral credibility by hastily signing amendments that, it said, introduce ambiguity into the collation and transmission of election results.
The ADC argued that the speed with which the amendment was passed by the APC-dominated National Assembly and assented to by the President raises concerns about the administration’s commitment to transparent and competitive elections. It noted that despite the ruling party’s control of a majority of state governments and federal legislative seats, the government still pushed through changes to the electoral framework without broad consultation.
“At a time when Nigerians are calling for stronger accountability and full modernisation of the electoral system, it is troubling that amendments that do not improve citizens’ confidence in the process were hurriedly approved,” the party said.
The statement further alleged that the amendment could weaken guarantees for electronic transparency in elections, warning that citizens might feel compelled to physically safeguard their votes to prevent discrepancies between polling-unit results and collation outcomes — a situation the party said could heighten tensions during polls.
The ADC maintained that no government confident in its democratic mandate should enact laws that risk undermining trust in elections. It accused the President and the APC-led National Assembly of disregarding public concerns by refusing to slow the legislative process and engage stakeholders.
Reaffirming its position, the party declared: “We will mobilise Nigerians toward vigilance, toward lawful participation, and toward unity in defence of their constitutional rights.”
The ADC said it remains ready to defend what it described as the sanctity of Nigeria’s democracy using all constitutional and lawful avenues, insisting that “the will of the people must prevail” regardless of legislative changes.
President Tinubu signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law on 18 February 2026. Supporters of the amendment within government have argued that the changes are intended to strengthen electoral administration, though opposition parties say key transparency safeguards were weakened.
The development sets the stage for heightened political contestation ahead of Nigeria’s next election cycle, with opposition parties signalling plans to mobilise public opinion and possible legal challenges against aspects of the new law.
