President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) Bill into law at a brief ceremony in his Abuja office, defending changes to the 2022 Electoral Act.
He said the amendments were designed to strengthen electoral processes, close procedural gaps, and were not influenced by partisan interests, stressing the importance of evolving Nigeria’s electoral framework based on past experiences.
“After every election cycle, we must honestly assess successes and failures,” Bola Tinubu said. “Laws must grow with experience to ensure elections remain credible and trusted by citizens.”
The president emphasised that the reforms aim to enhance procedures, build public confidence, and ensure voters trust both the process and the declared results during elections.
“These amendments focus on process, not politics.
“They close gaps, clarify procedures, and strengthen election integrity so citizens can trust both participation and outcomes, ” he added.
Tinubu expressed gratitude to the National Assembly for cooperating in the amendment process and promised ongoing efforts to consolidate democracy in Nigeria.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the new law guarantees that every vote counts and will enhance transparency in future elections across the country.
Akpabio noted the amendment accommodates mandatory electronic transmission of results, formally recognizing the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for real-time updates from polling units.
He explained that polling unit results would be transmitted electronically, with offline areas uploading results later.
Hard copies remain the official source of collation, ensuring integrity and reliability.
The reform allows voters to compare uploaded results with collated figures, reducing the risk of post-election manipulation and boosting public confidence in declared outcomes.
Akpabio also highlighted provisions for cases where a top-vote candidate is later disqualified by a court. Instead of declaring a runner-up winner, a fresh election will be conducted.
The law strengthens internal democracy within political parties, promoting direct primaries and increasing members’ roles in candidate selection processes.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas said the amendment reduces the statutory notice period for elections from 360 to 300 days, shifting presidential and National Assembly polls to January 2027.
He noted the change avoids clashes with the Ramadan period and helps reduce voter apathy, describing the adjustment as a proactive measure to enhance electoral participation and credibility.
Abbas emphasised that the National Assembly is committed to improving Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections, ensuring greater voter confidence and smoother election processes.
