The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared its intention to mobilise Nigerians across the country to safeguard the integrity of future elections, accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of undermining democratic credibility by assenting to the amended Electoral Act.
The opposition party made its position known on Thursday in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who faulted what the party described as the undue haste with which the president signed the amendment into law despite widespread public opposition.
According to the ADC, the speed of the amendment’s passage and presidential assent raises serious concerns about the government’s commitment to transparent and credible elections. The party argued that the new law introduces ambiguity into the electoral process, particularly in the areas of vote collation and transmission, while granting excessive discretion that could be abused.
“With the alarmingly speedy assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the president has effectively signed the death warrant on credible elections and set Nigeria’s democracy back by several decades,” the statement said. It added that although the president claimed the amendment would strengthen democracy, the ADC believes it has instead weakened public trust in the electoral system.
The party further questioned why a government that claims to control over 30 state governments and command a majority in both chambers of the National Assembly would rush to alter the electoral framework. According to the ADC, such haste suggests deep-seated doubts about submitting to a truly transparent and competitive electoral process.
Expressing concern about the implications of the amendment for upcoming elections, the party warned that the absence of firm guarantees for electronic transparency could compel citizens to physically protect their votes to prevent discrepancies between polling units and collation centres, as witnessed in previous elections.
Reaffirming its resolve, the ADC stated that it is ready to defend Nigeria’s democracy using every lawful and constitutional means. The party pledged to mobilise Nigerians toward vigilance, lawful participation, and unity in defence of their constitutional rights, insisting that the will of the people must ultimately prevail.
