Abuja, March 3, 2026 – A heated exchange between broadcaster Rufai Oseni and lawyer and political commentator Kenneth Okonkwo has drawn widespread attention following debates over the recently amended Electoral Act.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law on February 18, 2026. The amendments introduce provisions for electronic transmission of results, digital voter cards, and new guidelines governing party primaries.
However, opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, publicly rejected aspects of the law during a February 26 gathering in Abuja. Critics raised concerns over clauses permitting manual upload of results in cases of network failure and changes affecting indirect primaries, arguing that such provisions could undermine electoral transparency.
The disagreement spilled into a live broadcast on Arise News, where Okonkwo accused Oseni of “intellectual fraud” during a tense debate over the implications of the amendments. Co-anchor Reuben Abati intervened, urging moderation in the discussion.
Clips of the exchange quickly circulated on social media, sparking divided reactions and online commentary. The controversy reflects broader national debate over electoral reforms as political stakeholders begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
