The Presidency has slammed opposition parties, led by the ADC and NNPP, accusing them of spreading reckless and baseless allegations against President Bola Tinubu and the APC-led Federal Government.
In a statement made available to The News Chronicle on Thursday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the opposition has turned political theatrics into a tool for cheap headlines, working with some civil society groups to wage a relentless campaign of disinformation against the National Assembly and the government.
The criticism came in response to recent amendments to the Electoral Act, which allow for real-time transmission of election results and designate Form EC8A as a backup in case of network failures.
The Presidency dismissed opposition claims that Form EC8A creates loopholes for manipulation, describing them as illogical tantrums from those who should know better.
Officials clarified that the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) is only a platform for public access, not a collation center, and that the official results remain those recorded on Form EC8.
The opposition also attacked the introduction of direct primaries and consensus voting for party candidates, rejecting the move in favor of the old delegate system.
The government defended the reforms, saying they restore party ownership to members and align with international democratic practices, including those in the United States.
Addressing claims that President Tinubu seeks to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, the Presidency called them “baseless,” noting that Nigeria has over a dozen registered political parties.
The new Electoral Act, it said, is an improvement over the old law, closing loopholes previously exploited for manipulation.
“The opposition is crying foul because the rules now prevent manipulation,” Onanuga said. “Instead of unwarranted outrage, ADC and NNPP leaders should focus on introspection and fixing their own disorganisation.”
