By By Elizabeth Ugbo
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, around 5:00 pm, following its passage by the National Assembly and days after INEC released the timetable for the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu Signs Electoral Act 2026 Amendment into Law
The National Assembly passed the amendment bill on Tuesday after weeks of debate. President Tinubu assented to the bill on Wednesday. Principal officers of the legislature attended the signing ceremony in Abuja.
The amendment has stirred nationwide conversations. Many stakeholders have focused on real-time transmission of election results.
Debate Over Real-Time Transmission of Results
Civil society groups staged protests at the National Assembly complex last week. Opposition figures also joined the demonstrations. They demanded mandatory live transmission of results from polling units to INEC’s central server.
According to the groups, electronic transmission will curb manipulation. They believe it will also boost public trust in elections.
However, the ruling All Progressives Congress and other stakeholders raised concerns. They questioned the technical capacity in remote areas. Poor telecommunications infrastructure remains a major challenge.
As a result, some lawmakers proposed a phased or hybrid model. Under this approach, officials may use manual collation if electronic systems fail.
Lessons from the 2023 Elections
The controversy traces back to the 2023 general elections. During that poll, INEC’s Results Viewing Portal malfunctioned on election day. The disruption fueled allegations of rigging across several states.
Many observers insist that stronger electronic safeguards will prevent a repeat. Meanwhile, others argue that technology must match existing infrastructure realities.
INEC Timetable for 2027 General Elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission recently released the schedule for the next general elections. Presidential and National Assembly polls will hold on February 20, 2027. Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will follow on March 6, 2027.
With the amendment now law, attention shifts to implementation. Political parties, civil society groups, and voters will monitor how INEC applies the new provisions.
