ADP Chairman Yabagi Critiques Electoral Act 2026

Sani Yabagi, the Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), has publicly criticized the recently signed Electoral Act 2026, describing it as "anti-people" and a significant threat to Nigeria's democracy. In an interview with African Independent Television, Yabagi argued that the amendments reintroduce discretionary powers that could interfere with the electoral process.

He acknowledged the importance of the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVA) and insisted that electronic transmission of results is a crucial safeguard for electoral integrity. Yabagi emphasized that the absence of mandatory electronic transmission could undermine the electoral process, stating that it would lead to doubts about election results and ultimately affect democracy.

He also criticized provisions that allow a return to manual collation in the event of network failures, arguing that this clause weakens reforms aimed at curbing electoral manipulation. Yabagi warned that such changes could put Nigeria's democracy in a precarious situation, calling for a system that truly reflects the will of the people.