Lagos APC Dismisses Backlash Over Tinubu’s Assent to Electoral Act 2026

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised the backlash following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the Electoral Act 2026, describing the criticism as politically motivated and disconnected from national interest.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the party’s spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, said the Lagos APC observed with “undisguised disappointment” what it characterised as an orchestrated outcry by sections of the opposition over the President’s approval of the amended law.

The party maintained that governance is a constitutional responsibility that must be exercised with prudence and accountability rather than shaped by popularity contests, social media pressure or political theatrics.

Opposition groups had raised concerns about provisions of the amended Act, particularly those relating to the transmission of election results, arguing that the law does not guarantee real-time electronic transmission.

However, the Lagos APC rejected what it described as a “romanticised and misleading narrative” around real-time transmission models.

According to the party, experiences from other democracies that adopted similar systems revealed challenges including technological failures, cybersecurity risks, legal uncertainties and judicial reversals.

It warned against prioritising political convenience over the long-term integrity of electoral institutions.

The party also questioned the assumption that opposition parties possess superior insight into electoral reform, stressing that reform is not the “intellectual property” of any political bloc.

“The idea that electoral reform wisdom resides exclusively with the opposition is flawed,” the statement said, adding that the President’s assent followed due constitutional process, extensive legislative debate and institutional consultations.

The Lagos APC described Tinubu’s action as an exercise of prudence rather than panic, insisting that reforms must be thoughtful, sustainable and legally defensible, not reactionary or driven by social media pressure.

While acknowledging the role of opposition in a democratic system, the party cautioned against what it called the weaponisation of public sentiment and melodramatic distortions of policy decisions.

“Democracy thrives on credibility and institutional durability, not noise. Electoral integrity cannot be built on fragile systems designed more for headlines than long-term stability,” the party stated.

The APC added that Nigeria requires reforms that strengthen democratic institutions without exposing them to avoidable constitutional, legal and logistical risks, especially amid existing infrastructural challenges across the country.