Photo: Former Senate President David Mark, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, during the press conference.

Opposition leaders on Thursday rejected the Electoral Act recently passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.

During a joint press conference in Abuja today, the opposition leaders (the African Democratic Congress, ADC , and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP) demanded that the National Assembly should begin a fresh process to amend the Electoral Act, insisting that the current law does not reflect the aspirations of Nigerians.

In a communiqué read by the NNPP National Chairman, Ajuji Ahmed, they urged lawmakers to immediately reopen the law for review to ensure it guarantees credible elections.

Ahmed said that the opposition wants a new amendment process that would “remove all obnoxious provisions” and produce a legal framework that reflects the will of Nigerians for “free, fair, transparent and credible” elections.

The group warned that anything short of this would be unacceptable.

Prominent figures at the meeting included former Senate President David Mark, NNPP chieftain Buba Galadima, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Others in attendance at the meeting, held at the Lagos/Osun Hall of the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, included the ADC national secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Dino Melaye, former ADC national chairman Ralph Nwosu and former Cross River State governor Liyel Imoke, alongside other party officials and stakeholders.

Leading opposition figures, including a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, are currently gathered at Transcorp in Abuja to present their position on the Electoral Act.

Also present are former Senate President David Mark, a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Buba Galadima, a former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and the National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola.

The opposition leaders, who are meeting at the Lagos/Osun Hall of Transcorp Hilton, 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 the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi; 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.

(Punch)

•Peter Akpe. Photo: Bayelsa State Govt

Dr Peter Akpe will likely be sworn-in today as the new deputy governor by Bayelsa State House of Assembly

Before his nomination and approval by the Assembly yesterday , Dr Akpe was the Chief of Staff to Governor Douye Diri.

The development followed the demise of the former deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, after he slumped in the office on December 11, 2025 and was buried on January 30, 2026.

The governor insisted that no action would be taken on appointing a replacement for the deputy governor until after the burial.

Akpe, a former majority leader of the State House of Assembly, was swiftly cleared by the lawmakers, who congratulated him amid cheers.

Akpe, a trusted aide and a maternal cousin to Diri, is a seasoned administrator and politician.

He holds a Ph.D in Administration and Planning from the University of Port Harcourt and has extensive public service experience, including roles as Head of Administration in the Office of the Deputy Governor (2006–2007), Service Commission Member (2008–2011), Leader of the House (2011–2019), Deputy Chief of Staff, and Chief of Staff at Government House (2020–2024).He is also a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and a part-time lecturer at the Redeemer’s University, Ede.