The All Progressive Congress (APC) has cautioned individuals and groups opposed to President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the Electoral Act 2026 to desist from spreading “romanticised and misleading narrative” on the matter.
In a statement on Thursday by the spokesperson for the party’s Lagos State chapter, Seye Oladejo, the party expressed disappointment over recent demand for real-time transmission of election results by opposition figures.
Mr Oladejo faulted members of the opposition parties for underestimating the possibility and impact of “technological glitches, legal ambiguities, cybersecurity vulnerabilities and judicial reversals” in uncertain instances during elections.
“The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has watched with undisguised disappointment the orchestrated hysteria by sections of the opposition over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the Electoral Act 2026,” the statement said.
“Let it be stated without equivocation: governance is not a popularity contest, nor is it a theatre for digital propaganda. It is a serious constitutional duty carried out in the best interest of the Nigerian people.”
“Across several democracies where similar systems were experimented with, technological glitches, legal ambiguities, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and judicial reversals exposed the dangers of elevating political convenience above systemic integrity. Yet, our opposition continues to market half-truths as gospel,” it said.
Faulting the agitation of opposition characters on the subject of electoral reforms, the Lagos State Chapter of the APC stated that opposing arguments were insincere, unpatriotic and ill-intended.
The party denounced the opposition for demanding an absolute electronic transmission of election results despite infrastructural disparities in the country, as well as the legal and logistical implications of such a choice.
“Their arguments are not rooted in patriotism but in opportunism – dressed in the facade of sincerity and national wellbeing. They demand absolute technological guarantees in a nation still confronting infrastructure disparities, yet they conveniently ignore the constitutional, legal, and logistical implications that accompany such absolutism,” the party stated.
The APC stated that Mr Tinubu’s assent to the electoral amendment bill reflected prudence in leadership, as well as followed due processes and adequate consultation with appropriate institutions.
The party warned against reactionary agitations and social media pressures, which it said failed to recognise that democracy must be built on credibility and risk management.
“President Tinubu’s assent followed constitutional procedure, legislative debate, and institutional consultation. It reflects prudence, not panic. Reform must be thoughtful, sustainable, and legally defensible – not reactionary or driven by social media pressure,” the statement said.
“We caution those who seek to weaponise public sentiment: democracy thrives on credibility, not noise. Electoral integrity cannot be built on fragile systems designed more for headlines than for durability. Responsible governance requires anticipating risks before they mature into crises,” it added.
Declaring its support for the assented reforms, the party stated that Nigerians deserved electoral reforms anchored on legality, sustainability and national cohesion.
“Opposition is vital in any democracy. But opposition must not descend into distortion. Those who could not build durable electoral confidence when given the chance should refrain from lecturing those who are taking decisive steps to secure it,” the party noted.
