Politics
‘Electoral Act Amendment Ends Rigging In Nigeria’ – Nwaebonyi
Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, has declared that the latest amendment to the Electoral Act has effectively shut down loopholes that previously enabled election rigging in Nigeria.
Speaking on ARISE Television on Wednesday, the lawmaker said the revised law makes electronic transmission of election results compulsory, stressing that the new provision carries stronger legal backing than existing guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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Leading the Senate’s position on the controversial amendment, Nwaebonyi confidently stated that the new legal framework makes election manipulation practically impossible.
“With what we have done now, nobody can rig election in Nigeria,” the senator said.
According to him, the major difference between the 2022 Electoral Act and the newly amended version lies in the explicit insertion of mandatory electronic transmission of results into the law itself.
He referenced the Supreme Court judgment in INEC versus Atiku, explaining that the legal interpretation would now differ because of the stronger wording adopted by the National Assembly.
“The difference between the Electoral Act of 2022 and what we are doing now, which will make the decision of the court different from what happened in INEC versus Atiku, is that this time, the National Assembly has inserted it in our law,” he stated.
Nwaebonyi emphasized that the language used in the amendment removes discretion from electoral authorities.
“The word there is ‘shall’, not ‘may’. That is the difference,” he added.
The senator further argued that in cases of conflict, the Electoral Act would supersede INEC’s operational guidelines, including those concerning the Result Viewing Portal (IREV).
“If there is conflict between the guideline and the Act, the Act is an Act of Parliament. The guideline is a guideline of the agency. So the Electoral Act supersedes the guideline,” he said.
He maintained that the amendment fundamentally alters the legal landscape for future election petitions, particularly regarding electronic transmission of results.
However, the lawmaker cautioned that the effectiveness of the reform would depend largely on vigilance by political stakeholders.
“All that is required is for all eyes to be on the ball by all political players,” he added.
The Senate had reconvened in an emergency session on Tuesday following widespread public criticism over earlier changes to the Electoral Act, especially provisions relating to electronic transmission of results and the status of INEC’s IREV portal.
The amendment continues to generate debate among political actors, with some stakeholders arguing that transparency goes beyond real-time transmission of results.
A former senator representing Sokoto East Senatorial District, Abubakar Umar Gada, has assured members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the party remains strong and united in Sokoto State despite recent defections by some political figures.
Gada gave the assurance in a statement issued on Thursday in Sokoto, where he urged party loyalists to remain calm, focused and committed to the ideals of the PDP.
According to him, political defections are not unusual in Nigeria’s democratic landscape and should not be seen as a threat to the stability and strength of the party in the state.
SEE MORE: PDP’s Festering Crisis Chases Tambuwal to ADC
The former lawmaker stressed that the PDP still enjoys a strong grassroots presence in Sokoto, noting that the party’s structure across the state remains intact and capable of delivering electoral victories.
He explained that the strength of the PDP lies in the loyalty and dedication of its members, leaders and supporters who have remained committed to the party through various political challenges.
Gada also pointed out that politics allows individuals the freedom to make personal decisions, but maintained that the PDP as an institution remains resilient and firmly rooted in the aspirations of the people of Sokoto State and Nigeria.
He further disclosed that the party’s national leadership has already initiated measures aimed at strengthening internal unity and consolidating party structures across the country.
According to him, consultations and reconciliation efforts are currently ongoing among key stakeholders to address emerging concerns and reinforce unity within the party.
Gada noted that such engagements are designed to ensure the PDP moves forward with renewed focus, stronger unity and a clear commitment to democratic values.
He recalled that the party has successfully navigated several political challenges in the past and has consistently emerged stronger.
The former senator therefore urged PDP members in Sokoto State to remain steadfast and avoid actions capable of creating divisions within the party.
He also called on supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation and strengthen party structures across all levels as the party prepares for future political contests.
The lingering intra-party crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has forced senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Tambuwal to dump the party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Tambuwal, a former governor of Sokoto State, disclosed this in a resignation letter dated March 11, 2026, addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Tambuwal/Shinfiri Ward of Tambuwal Local Government Area.
The letter, which was made available to journalists on Thursday, said the decision followed consultations with his political associates and supporters.
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“After deep reflection and extensive consultations with my political associates and supporters, I have decided to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party with immediate effect,” Tambuwal stated.
According to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, lingering disputes and leadership disagreements in the PDP made it increasingly difficult for him to remain in the party.
“The persistent internal crises, leadership disagreements and growing divisions within the party have made it increasingly difficult for me to continue my membership,” he added.
Despite leaving the party, the senator expressed appreciation to the PDP for the opportunities it gave him to serve in different capacities.
“I remain grateful to the party for the platform it provided me to serve Nigeria as Speaker of the House of Representatives and later as Governor of Sokoto State,” he said.
Tambuwal confirmed that he had joined the ADC alongside his political associates and supporters, describing the move as part of efforts to strengthen democratic values and provide a credible political alternative.
“My decision is guided by the conviction that Nigeria requires a stronger political platform built on integrity, accountability, inclusiveness and a clear commitment to national development,” he added.
Tambuwal served as Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015 before emerging governor of Sokoto State in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress (APC). He later defected to the PDP the same year and was re-elected governor in 2019.
After completing his second term in 2023, he was elected to the Nigerian Senate to represent Sokoto South.
His defection to the ADC is expected to alter the political dynamics in Sokoto State, where he remains one of the state’s most influential political figures.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has explained that the persistent crisis and legal disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party compelled him to defect to the All Progressives Congress.
The governor’s defection was formally announced on Monday by his deputy, Mani Mummuni, after a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Gusau.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the move was described as a necessary step taken in the interest of the state and supported by political stakeholders across Zamfara.
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According to the statement, Governor Lawal had remained committed to the PDP despite the ongoing leadership crisis and had made several efforts to reconcile factions within the party.
However, attempts to achieve peace and unity reportedly failed, leading to prolonged legal battles.
The development followed a judgment by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which dismissed an appeal filed by the PDP challenging an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court.
The earlier judgment had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The governor was said to have informed political stakeholders during a series of meetings that he would make a final decision about his political future after the appellate court delivered its ruling.
Following the judgment, Lawal concluded that joining the APC would better position him to continue what he described as the “Zamfara Rescue and Rebuild Mission.”
His defection marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Zamfara State and could influence political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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