Utomi Blasts Tinubu’s Electoral Act Assent As APC Waves Off Criticism

Political economist Pat Utomi has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s decision to sign the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) Bill into law, saying the democratic freedom many Nigerians fought for in the 1990s has effectively been “killed.”

Utomi made the statement on Thursday via his verified account, less than 24 hours after the President assented to the more than 120-page legislation. Although Tinubu had a 30-day window to study the bill and consult stakeholders before signing or returning it to the National Assembly, he approved it within a day of receiving it.

In his reaction, Utomi called for renewed civic resistance.

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.”

His comments have fueled ongoing debate among opposition politicians and civil society groups, some of whom fear the amendments could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

Critics have particularly raised concerns about provisions dealing with the transmission of election results, arguing that the revised law does not firmly guarantee real-time electronic transmission.

However, the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the criticism, describing it as politically driven.

In a statement issued Thursday by its spokesperson, Mogaji Seye Oladejo, the party said it viewed the backlash as an orchestrated campaign by sections of the opposition.

The APC maintained that governance is a constitutional duty that must be carried out responsibly, not influenced by social media trends or political dramatics. It also rejected what it described as a misleading and overly romanticized narrative about real-time electronic transmission, insisting that criticisms of the amended Act fail to reflect the broader national interest.

The amended Electoral Act 2026 will shape preparations for the 2027 general elections, for which political actors are already strategizing.