Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on information and strategy, has accused opposition parties of spreading disinformation about the newly amended Electoral Act (2026).
His reaction followed a press conference in Abuja by leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
At the briefing, they asked the national assembly to amend the Act to provide for real-time electronic transmission of election results.
In a statement on Thursday, Onanuga described the opposition’s claims as reckless and misleading.
On Result Transmission
Onanuga said the amendment already allows real-time transmission of results, noting that the law also retains Form EC8A as a backup in the event of network failure.
He rejected the claim that Form EC8A creates a loophole for manipulation. He said the provision simply addresses technical realities such as network glitches.
According to him, the Act does not prohibit electronic transmission. Instead, it ensures that elections do not collapse because of connectivity issues.
Clarification on IReV
Furthermore, Onanuga clarified the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Results Viewing Portal.
He said the IReV is not a collation centre. Rather, it serves as a platform for uploading results for public viewing. He maintained that Form EC8 remains the primary legal document for validating election results.
Onanuga also criticised the opposition for rejecting direct primaries.
He said the amendment strengthens internal party democracy. According to him, it allows party members to choose their candidates directly.
The president’s aide questioned why the opposition prefers the delegate system.
He described that system as corrupt and prone to manipulation. He added that direct primaries align with the presidential system Nigeria operates.
Allegation of One-Party State
Onanuga dismissed claims that President Tinubu plans to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
He said Nigeria remains a multiparty democracy with several registered political parties. He accused the opposition of exaggerating the effects of the new law to incite the public.
Onanuga further rejected the claim that the national assembly ignored Nigerians while amending the Act.
He said lawmakers consulted stakeholders and technical experts for two years. He insisted that the process reflected broad input from Nigerians.
The president’s spokesperson said the amended Electoral Act improves on the previous law. He said it closes loopholes that could undermine election integrity.
He urged opposition leaders to organise their parties instead of spreading what he described as misinformation about the new law.
