By ADEYEMI ADELEYE

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday cautioned opposition parties against peddling misleading narratives over President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the amended Electoral Act 2026 passed by the National Assembly.

The party said that governance “transcends emotion” and should not be reduced to “digital propaganda and orchestrated hysteria.”

The Lagos APC Spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo, in a statement in Lagos, said the opposition’s reaction to the President’s assent was disappointing and misleading.

“The Lagos State Chapter of the APC has watched with undisguised disappointment the orchestrated hysteria by sections of the opposition over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent to the Electoral Act 2026.

“Let it be stated without equivocation: governance is not a popularity contest, nor is it a theatre for digital propaganda. It is a serious constitutional duty carried out in the best interest of the Nigerian people,” Oladejo said.

He described the opposition’s narrative on real-time transmission models in other jurisdictions as misleading.

According to him, some democracies where similar systems were tested revealed technological glitches, legal ambiguities, cybersecurity vulnerabilities and judicial reversals.

“Across several democracies where similar systems were experimented with, technological glitches, legal ambiguities, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and judicial reversals exposed the dangers of elevating political convenience above systemic integrity.

“Yet, our opposition continues to market half-truths as gospel,” he said.

Oladejo questioned what he called the assumption of “exclusive wisdom” by opposition elements on electoral reforms.

“What manner of democracy suggests that the opposition alone possesses superior wisdom?

“Since when did electoral reform become the exclusive intellectual property of those who have consistently demonstrated administrative inconsistency when entrusted with responsibility?” he queried.

He argued that the President’s assent followed due constitutional process, legislative debate and institutional consultation.

“President Tinubu’s assent followed constitutional procedure, legislative debate, and institutional consultation. It reflects prudence, not panic.

“Reform must be thoughtful, sustainable, and legally defensible – not reactionary or driven by social media pressure,” he said.

The APC spokesman cautioned against weaponising public sentiment, noting that democracy thrives on credibility and institutional strength.

“Electoral integrity cannot be built on fragile systems designed more for headlines than for durability. Responsible governance requires anticipating risks before they mature into crises.

“The people of Nigeria deserve reforms that strengthen institutions, not experiments that may compromise them,” Oladejo said.

He maintained that while opposition remained vital in a democracy, it must not descend into distortion.

“Opposition is vital in any democracy. But opposition must not descend into distortion.

“Those who could not build durable electoral confidence when given the chance should refrain from lecturing those who are taking decisive steps to secure it.

“Governance transcends emotion. It demands maturity over melodrama, substance over spectacle, and nation over narrative,” he said. (NAN)