Leaders of opposition political parties, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi, have rejected the amended Electoral Act 2026, describing its passage as flawed and politically motivated.

The coalition criticised the process through which the National Assembly of Nigeria passed the legislation, alleging lack of transparency and adequate consultation.

Speaking at a press briefing, Ajuri Ahmed of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of positioning President Tinubu as the sole credible presidential contender ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ahmed argued that available data indicates election results can be electronically transmitted from all polling units nationwide, questioning why the amended law retains provisions for manual transmission.

He also expressed surprise at the speed with which President Tinubu assented to the bill, noting that similar urgency had not been applied to other pending legislation.

According to him, the recently concluded Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election demonstrated why the APC was eager to secure presidential assent to the Electoral Act.

The opposition coalition further rejected the outcome of the FCT election, describing it as a litmus test for the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which they claimed he failed.

The development signals rising political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition leaders insisting that electoral reforms must strengthen transparency rather than undermine public confidence.