- Lagos APC expressed disappointment over opposition criticism of President Tinubu’s approval of the Electoral Act 2026
- The party argued the President acted prudently, following constitutional procedures and extensive consultations
- APC urged Nigerians to focus on sustainable electoral reforms rather than reactionary political theatrics
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the Electoral Act 2026, describing the backlash as politically motivated and divorced from Nigeria’s national interest.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the party’s spokesperson, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, the Lagos APC expressed “undisguised disappointment” over what it termed an orchestrated outcry by segments of the opposition against the President’s approval of the amended law.
The party argued that governance is a constitutional duty that requires prudence and responsibility, rather than decisions influenced by popularity contests, social media campaigns, or political theatrics.
Opposition groups had raised concerns about provisions in the amended Act, particularly regarding the transmission of election results, arguing that the law does not guarantee real-time electronic reporting. However, the Lagos APC rejected this narrative, calling it “romanticised and misleading.” The party noted that experiences in other democracies using similar systems had exposed technological failures, cybersecurity risks, legal ambiguities, and judicial reversals.
“The idea that electoral reform wisdom resides exclusively with the opposition is flawed,” the statement said. It added that President Tinubu’s assent followed proper constitutional procedures, including extensive legislative debate and institutional consultation. The party emphasised that the President’s decision reflected prudence rather than panic, stressing that reforms must be “thoughtful, sustainable and legally defensible, not reactionary or driven by social media pressure.”
The Lagos APC also warned against the politicisation of public sentiment and what it described as the melodramatic distortion of policy decisions. “Democracy thrives on credibility and institutional durability, not noise,” the statement said. “Electoral integrity cannot be built on fragile systems designed more for headlines than long-term stability.”
The party concluded by urging Nigerians to prioritise reforms that strengthen democratic institutions without exposing them to avoidable constitutional, legal, or logistical risks, particularly given existing infrastructural challenges across the country. Observers note that the APC’s stance reflects a broader effort to defend the administration’s approach to electoral reform while framing opposition critiques as politically opportunistic.