President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday officially signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The signing occurred around 5:00 p.m., with top national assembly officials present.
The amendment comes shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission released the timetable for the 2027 general elections, scheduled for February 20 (Presidential and National Assembly) and March 6 (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly).
The passage of the bill has reignited discussions on the electronic transmission of election results.
Civil society groups and opposition figures have long advocated for real-time transmission from polling units to INEC’s central server, arguing that it would enhance transparency and curb manipulation.
Protests erupted at the National Assembly last week, demanding live transmission, following disruptions in the 2023 elections when INEC’s Results Viewing Portal failed.
While the ruling All Progressives Congress supports the adoption of technology, some stakeholders emphasize a phased or hybrid approach to accommodate areas with poor telecommunications infrastructure, allowing manual collation where electronic systems fail.
With the Electoral Act now signed into law, the stage is set for Nigeria’s 2027 elections, amid ongoing debates about balancing technology and practical election logistics.
