ABUJA: President Bola Tinubu has officially signed the Electoral Act 2026, a repeal and re-enactment of the 2022 law establishing the legal framework expected to guide Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The signing followed months of legislative deliberations by the National Assembly and took place at the State House in Abuja with senior government officials in attendance.
Among those present were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Speaking after signing the bill, Tinubu stressed the need for Nigerians to trust the electoral process, describing democracy as a system strengthened by robust dialogue and national consensus.
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He said proper management of elections is essential to prevent confusion, disenfranchisement, and instability.
According to the President, even the most advanced electoral systems ultimately depend on human oversight, from vote casting to final result declaration.
He emphasised that Nigeria must continue nurturing democratic institutions to ensure long-term political stability and prosperity.
Tinubu also addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding electronic transmission of election results.
He noted that while digital tools can improve efficiency, Nigeria must realistically assess its broadband capacity and technical readiness before fully relying on real-time electronic transmission.
He maintained that voting itself remains largely manual ballot issuance, thumb-printing, counting, and collation with technology mainly assisting in transmitting recorded results.
The President warned against system vulnerabilities such as technical glitches or cyber interference, saying safeguards must be prioritised.
Passage of the bill generated intense debate within the Senate, particularly over provisions allowing manual transmission of results if electronic systems fail. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe pushed for a division on the contentious clause, arguing against retaining manual fallback options.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin countered that reopening earlier decisions could breach Senate procedures, while Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele insisted the chamber had authority to revisit prior resolutions through a rescission motion.
After voting, 55 senators supported retaining the proviso for manual transmission during network failure, while 15 opposed it.
Debates also surfaced in the House of Representatives, where attempts to reconsider earlier approval of compulsory real-time electronic transmission led to vocal disagreements among lawmakers.
A voice vote triggered protests when some members claimed the “nays” were louder despite a ruling in favour of the motion, eventually forcing a closed-door session.
With the new electoral law now in force, attention shifts to implementation ahead of the next general elections. While supporters argue the legislation balances technology with practical realities, critics remain concerned about transparency and the potential impact of manual transmission provisions on electoral credibility.
