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The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has vowed to mobilise Nigerians to defend democratic values following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, describing the move as a setback to credible elections in the country.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused the president of rushing the amendment and undermining public confidence in the electoral system.
The ADC said the speed with which the bill was signed into law raised serious concerns about the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
The party stated that the amendments introduce ambiguity and grant excessive discretion in the collation and transmission of election results.
“With the alarmingly speedy assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the death warrant on credible elections and, by so doing, set Nigeria’s democracy back by several decades,” the statement read.
According to the party, despite the ruling party’s political dominance at both federal and state levels, the hurried passage of the amendment suggests a reluctance to submit to a fully transparent and competitive electoral process.
“It is quite instructive that despite claiming to control more than 30 state governments and commanding a majority in both chambers of the National Assembly, the extraordinary haste with which this amendment was passed and signed raises unavoidable questions,” the ADC said.
Expressing concern over the implications for future elections, the party warned that the absence of firm guarantees for electronic transparency could heighten tensions during polls.
“In the absence of firm guarantees of electronic transparency, vigilant citizens may feel compelled to physically safeguard their votes to prevent discrepancies,” the statement added.
The ADC affirmed that it is prepared to defend the sanctity of Nigeria’s democracy through constitutional and lawful means.
“We are ready, willing, and prepared to defend the sanctity of Nigeria’s democracy using every constitutional and lawful means available to us. We will mobilise Nigerians toward vigilance, lawful participation, and unity in defence of their constitutional rights,” the party declared.
The statement concluded that no hastily enacted law could extinguish the democratic aspirations of Nigerians, insisting that the will of the people must ultimately prevail.
Democracy under threat – ADC slams Tinubu over new Electoral Law
