The Kwankwasiyya Movement has condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's rapid approval of the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) Bill, calling it a blow to Nigeria's democratic principles amid fears of one-party dominance.
In a statement signed by spokesperson Dr. Habibu Sale Mohammed, the group criticized the "accelerated presidential assent" granted just one day after the National Assembly passed the bill on February 17, 2026 despite widespread protests, civil society warnings, and demands for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results.
Kwankwasiyya argued that the quick process, which retained optional electronic transmission and manual collation, underscores the All Progressives Congress (APC)'s overwhelming control over the executive and legislature.
This influence, they said, has been amplified by defections from opposition-elected officials to the APC, undermining political integrity, ideological consistency, and voters' mandates.
"The mandate belongs to the electorate, not to the personal convenience of office holders," the statement emphasized.
"When defections systematically weaken opposition ranks, legislative scrutiny diminishes, and executive proposals face reduced resistance regardless of public sentiment."
The movement highlighted the Electoral Act amendments as evidence of eroded accountability: despite nationwide demonstrations and advocacy from groups like Yiaga Africa for stronger transparency safeguards, the ruling party prevailed.
"Democracy rarely collapses suddenly. More often, it erodes gradually through the normalization of opportunistic defections, the shrinking of institutional opposition, and the passage of laws that fail to reflect the popular will," it warned.
Kwankwasiyya urged elected officials to prioritize loyalty to Nigerians over party interests and called on citizens to remain vigilant in defending democratic institutions.
"Nigeria's democracy belongs to its people. It must not be weakened by convenience nor compromised by concentration of power," the group concluded.
President Tinubu signed the bill into law on February 18, 2026, defending it as a balanced approach that prioritizes human oversight to prevent issues like hacking or network failures, while commending lawmakers for a "rigorous" process.
However, opposition voices including the Labour Party, PDP elements, and CSOs have labeled the assent "hurried" and a setback for credible 2027 elections.
The amendments address party primaries, campaign finance, and result transmission but have reignited debates over electronic safeguards, a key issue since 2023.
No immediate response from the presidency or APC to the Kwankwasiyya criticism has been reported, but the statement adds to rising political friction ahead of future polls.
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