President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) Bill into law, setting the stage for fresh debates over the legal framework governing the 2027 general elections, particularly the contentious issue of electronic transmission of election results.
The President assented to the bill at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, in the presence of principal officers of the National Assembly, barely 24 hours after the National Assembly passed the legislation.
The amendment comes just days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, slated for February 20 for the Presidential and National Assembly polls and March 6 for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
The signing has reignited long-standing debates over the adoption of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process, especially real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units to INEC’s central server.
Civil society organisations and opposition parties have consistently advocated real-time result transmission, arguing that it would reduce human interference, curb manipulation, and enhance transparency and public confidence in the electoral system.
The debate gained renewed momentum following protests at the National Assembly complex last week, where demonstrators called for compulsory live transmission of results.
The protesters cited the controversial 2023 general elections, during which INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) reportedly experienced technical challenges, leading to delays in uploading results and widespread allegations of electoral malpractice.
Proponents of electronic transmission argue that a legally backed, fully automated system would close loopholes exploited during manual collation and limit opportunities for tampering at collation centres.
However, some stakeholders, including lawmakers and election experts, have urged caution, citing infrastructural constraints in parts of the country. They argue that poor telecommunications coverage, unstable power supply, and logistical challenges in remote areas necessitate a phased or hybrid system that allows manual collation where electronic transmission fails.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has publicly expressed support for the adoption of technology in elections but has also acknowledged the need for flexibility in regions with limited digital infrastructure.
Analysts say the Electoral Act amendment is expected to shape preparations for the 2027 elections, influence INEC’s operational guidelines, and likely form the basis of intense political and legal debates in the coming months.
