The Kwankwasiyya Movement has voiced strong reservations over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s swift assent to the amended 2026 Electoral Act, describing the process as hurried and dismissive of widespread public concern.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Habibu Sale Mohammed, the movement said the accelerated signing of the bill—despite sustained civil society advocacy, expert warnings, and public demonstrations—signals what it called the growing risks of one-party dominance in Nigeria’s democracy.
The group argued that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) now wields overwhelming influence across both the Executive and the National Assembly. It attributed this dominance partly to the wave of defections by elected officials who originally secured their mandates under other political platforms.
According to the movement, these defections are not merely routine political realignments but developments that raise deeper moral and constitutional questions. It maintained that when elected representatives abandon the parties on whose platforms they were elected—without clear ideological justification or meaningful consultation with constituents—it distorts democratic representation.
“The mandate belongs to the electorate, not to the personal convenience of officeholders,” the statement stressed.
The movement further warned that Nigeria’s constitutional democracy is built on checks and balances, legislative independence, and a vibrant opposition. When opposition ranks are weakened through defections, it argued, legislative scrutiny declines and executive proposals may pass with minimal resistance—regardless of public sentiment.
Citing the controversy surrounding the amended Electoral Act as a case in point, the group noted that nationwide protests, detailed submissions from civil society organisations, and public calls for stronger transparency safeguards did not ultimately alter the legislative outcome.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement cautioned that democratic systems rarely collapse abruptly. Rather, they erode gradually—through normalized defections, shrinking opposition influence, and the steady concentration of power.
It reaffirmed its commitment to political pluralism and ideological competition, insisting that Nigeria must resist any drift toward de facto one-party dominance. The movement called on elected officials to remember that their primary allegiance is to the Nigerian people and urged citizens to remain vigilant, peaceful, and actively engaged in defending democratic institutions.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement, inspired by former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has consistently positioned itself as a voice for electoral integrity and accountable governance, particularly in moments it perceives as critical to Nigeria’s democratic future.
Kwankwasiyya Movement Raises Alarm Over 2026 Electoral Act Assent
