President Tinubu Signs Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026 Amidst Debate Over Electronic Transmission

President Tinubu Assents to Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria officially signed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026 into law on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at the State House in Abuja. The signing ceremony, attended by principal officers of the National Assembly, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, marks a significant step in the nation's electoral reform efforts.

President Tinubu commended lawmakers for a 'rigorous and patriotic process,' stating that the reforms are intended to safeguard democratic stability and prevent voter disenfranchisement. He emphasized that while technology plays a role, the electoral process ultimately relies on human management and public trust, noting that 'results are finalised by humans — not computers.'

Key Provisions of the New Electoral Act

The newly signed Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026 introduces several key changes aimed at enhancing the transparency and efficiency of Nigeria's elections:

• It formalizes the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as the sole mandatory method for voter accreditation, replacing older technologies.
• The legislation streamlines election administration by adjusting the 'Notice of Election' window to 180 days, down from 360 days, and requires the submission of candidate lists 90 days before a general election.
• Penalties for electoral malpractice have been strengthened, with the fine for illegal buying or selling of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) increased to ₦5 million, alongside a strict two-year imprisonment term.
• The Act grants the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the authority to prescribe the specific manner for the transfer of results and accreditation data.
• The Permanent Voter Card (PVC) remains the mandatory identification for voting.

Controversy Surrounding Electronic Transmission of Results

Despite the stated goals of strengthening democracy, the new law has drawn considerable criticism, particularly concerning Clause 60, which makes the electronic transmission of election results optional rather than mandatory.

Initially, the House of Representatives had passed a version of the bill mandating electronic transmission of results from polling units to INEC's Result Viewing Portal (IReV). However, the Senate rejected this mandatory provision, opting to retain the allowance for results to be transmitted to collation centers without making electronic transmission compulsory. The Senate later revised its stance to make electronic transmission optional, with a provision that the manually completed Form EC8A would serve as the primary means of result collation in cases of internet failure.

Civil society organizations, including Yiaga Africa and the Youth Electoral Reform Project Consortium, alongside opposition parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have voiced strong concerns. They argue that making electronic transmission optional weakens safeguards against manipulation and could deepen public distrust in the electoral process. Yiaga Africa described the signed law as a 'missed opportunity for the transformative electoral reform that Nigeria requires.'

President's Rationale and Future Implications

In his remarks, President Tinubu acknowledged the debates, stating that Nigeria's broadband capabilities and the potential for hacking were factors in the decision regarding electronic transmission. He reiterated that manual voting and counting remain central to Nigeria's electoral system, with electronic transmission serving as a supportive mechanism.

The signing of this bill establishes the legal framework for the conduct of future general elections, coming shortly after INEC released the timetable for the 2027 general elections. The implementation of these provisions, particularly the optional electronic transmission, is expected to be a focal point of discussion and potential legal challenges as the nation prepares for its next electoral cycle.