Utomi Laments Tinubu’s Assent To Electoral Act, APC Dismisses Backlash

Political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) Bill into law, declaring that the freedom many Nigerians fought for in the 1990s had been “murdered.”

Utomi made the remarks on Thursday in a post on his verified 𝕏 handle, barely 24 hours after the President assented to the over 120-page legislation.

The President had up to 30 days to review and consult before deciding to sign or return the bill to the National Assembly. However, he assented to it less than 24 hours after it was transmitted to him.

Reacting, Utomi said Nigerians must prepare for a renewed struggle.

He wrote, “Back in the 1990s I put my life on the line that Nigeria may be free. Today it became clear that freedom has been murdered.

“I call on Concerned Professionals to return to the struggle for the liberation of the Nigerian people from a cabal foisting on us advance election rigging.”

The development has sparked debate among opposition figures and civil society groups, some of whom fear that the 2027 general elections could be compromised.

Opposition groups have particularly expressed concerns about provisions relating to the transmission of election results, arguing that the amended law does not guarantee real-time electronic transmission.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the backlash trailing the President’s assent, describing it as politically motivated.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, the party said it observed with “undisguised disappointment” what it termed an orchestrated outcry by sections of the opposition.

The party maintained that governance was a constitutional responsibility that must be exercised with prudence, rather than driven by social media pressure or political theatrics.

The Lagos APC also rejected what it described as a “romanticised and misleading narrative” surrounding real-time electronic transmission models.

According to the party, criticisms of the amended Act were disconnected from the country’s broader national interest.

The Electoral Act 2026 amendment is expected to guide preparations for the 2027 general elections, which political stakeholders have already begun positioning for.