Fatimah Otunsanya
Leading opposition figures, including a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, are currently gathered at Transcorp in Abuja to present their position on the Electoral Act.
Also present are former Senate President David Mark, a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Buba Galadima, a former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola.
The opposition leaders, who are meeting at the Lagos/Osun Hall of Transcorp Hilton, are expected to address journalists on contentious provisions of the Electoral Act, as well as other key national issues.
Other stakeholders at the venue include the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi; Senator Dino Melaye; a former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu; and a former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, among others.
Under the Electoral Act 2022, political parties were permitted to nominate candidates through direct primaries involving all registered members, indirect primaries conducted by delegates, or by consensus arrangements reached by party leaders.
However, the 2026 Electoral Act, recently passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Tinubu on February 18, restricts parties to only direct primaries and consensus options.
In addition, the new law shortens campaign periods and timelines for primaries, while funding for the Independent National Electoral Commission will now be released six months before an election, instead of the previous 12 months.
Details later…
