Channels Television hosted a Citizens’ Townhall on Sunday as debate deepened over the newly signed Electoral Act 2026 ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The forum brought together lawmakers, civil society actors, electoral officials and citizens to scrutinise the strengths and shortcomings of the revised legal framework.
Central to discussions was electronic transmission of results, a contentious provision many believe will determine the credibility of the next polls.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, acknowledged technical concerns but expressed confidence in the commission’s preparedness.
He identified network adequacy as a key challenge, noting that election quality depends largely on logistical and technological capacity.
Amupitan assured Nigerians that glitches would not derail the 2027 elections, revealing plans for a mock presidential poll to test transmission systems nationwide.
The Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, criticised the National Assembly for retaining manual transmission as an alternative.
He argued that only real-time electronic transmission can guarantee transparency and public trust in results.
Former INEC National Commissioner, Okechukwu Ibeanu, warned that constant amendments to electoral laws distract from deeper structural reforms.
He said gaps and loopholes remain, urging citizens to act as vigilant guardians of democracy.
Chidi Nwafor, former INEC ICT Director, emphasised the role of security agencies and the judiciary in safeguarding electoral integrity.
Lawmakers also disagreed on the law’s interpretation.
Chairman of the harmonisation committee, Adebayo Balogun, maintained that Form EC8A remains the primary collation document.
However, Senator Victor Umeh described the INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, as a transformative safeguard against manipulation.
Former voter education director, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, questioned who determines network failure during elections, warning that discretion could be abused.
ICT experts, including Oluwadara Oluwalana of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, expressed optimism about Nigeria’s technological capacity.
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, dismissed claims that the Act favours the ruling party.
He defended recent defections into the APC, describing them as voluntary and driven by confidence in the party’s governance model.
A chieftain of the African Democratic Party, Sam Amadi, expressed doubts over INEC’s assurances, saying confidence must be earned through credible action.
Former ActionAid Country Director, Ene Obi, criticised campaign spending limits, warning they could disadvantage less wealthy aspirants.
President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 into law on February 18, replacing the 2022 legislation.
Under the new timetable, presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, with governorship polls scheduled for February 6.
As debate continues, stakeholders agree that preparation, transparency and citizen vigilance would shape the credibility of the 2027 elections.
