Following the signage of the new Electoral Act by President Bola Tinubu, the leaders of the leading opposition party, Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) are holding an emergency meeting.
Present at the meeting is a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President, David Mark, the party National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and former presidential candidate in the last general elections, Peter Obi
The meeting is currently being held at Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.
Also present at the meeting is the chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Buba Galadima, a former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and the party National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
The opposition leaders, who are meeting at the Lagos/Osun Hall of Transcorp, 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 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.
