Civil society groups and opposition parties have criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the Electoral Act 2026 into law, describing the move as a missed opportunity for meaningful reform.
At a coalition press briefing in Abuja, organisations including Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, and TAF Africa said the speed and opacity of the legislative process undermined public trust.
The coalition criticised provisions allowing manual transmission of results under certain conditions and the ₦50 million party registration fee, which they said could exclude grassroots movements.
African Democratic Congress labelled the law a setback for credible elections, while the Arewa Consultative Forum backed the assent but demanded full disclosure of the Act’s contents.
Despite concerns, some observers acknowledged gains such as legal recognition of INEC’s results portal, which could strengthen electoral litigation and transparency ahead of the 2027 polls.
