Electoral Act 2026 Amendment is now law after President Bola Tinubu signed the revised legislation on Wednesday, setting new rules ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The signing ceremony took place at the State House in Abuja, days after the National Assembly passed the bill following heated debate. The amendment arrives amid renewed concerns over how election results will be transmitted across the country.
At the heart of the Electoral Act 2026 Amendment is a hybrid system that combines electronic transmission with manual collation in areas facing network challenges. Lawmakers approved the compromise after earlier disagreements over whether electronic transmission should be mandatory.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tinubu urged Nigerians to trust the electoral system. He stressed that elections remain people-driven, not computer-controlled. According to him, while figures may be entered digitally for accuracy, votes are cast and counted manually at polling units before results are announced by officials.
The amendment follows the recent release of the Notice of Election and timetable for the 2027 polls by the Independent National Electoral Commission. INEC has repeatedly pledged neutrality and operational readiness as preparations intensify.
Debate over electronic transmission dates back to amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act. Initial resistance by lawmakers to mandatory electronic uploads sparked protests and criticism from civil society groups. The Senate later reversed its stance and reintroduced provisions accommodating electronic transmission.
Under the new law, manual transmission using Form EC8A becomes the fallback option where internet access fails. The move reflects ongoing concerns about infrastructure limitations since the 2023 elections.
Meanwhile, INEC is undergoing leadership transition. The Senate recently confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as chairman after approval by the National Council of State. The commission has also proposed a N209 billion budget to upgrade technology and logistics for the 2027 vote, pending legislative approval.
The Electoral Act 2026 Amendment is expected to shape the legal and technological framework of Nigeria’s next general election.
