President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law, just days after the Independent National Electoral Commission released the timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The signing took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, around 5:00 pm on Wednesday, with principal officers of the National Assembly in attendance.
The National Assembly had passed the bill on Tuesday.
The amendment reignites debates over the electronic transmission of election results.
Civil society groups and some opposition figures have long pushed for real-time transmission of results from polling units to INEC’s central server, arguing it would curb manipulation and strengthen credibility.
Protesters had last week disrupted the National Assembly complex to demand live transmission, citing failures during the 2023 elections when INEC’s Results Viewing Portal collapsed, triggering widespread allegations of rigging.
While the ruling All Progressives Congress supports technology adoption, some stakeholders argue that areas with poor telecommunications infrastructure require a phased or hybrid approach, allowing manual collation where electronic systems fail.
According to a report, the new law repeals and re-enacts the previous Electoral Act, introducing amendments aimed at strengthening the legal framework guiding the conduct of elections in the country.
The amendment comes amid widespread controversy over issues relating to the transmission of election results, electoral timelines, and the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
With the presidential assent, INEC is expected to review and issue new guidelines in line with the amended law as preparations gradually begin for the next general elections.
Political stakeholders and observers are now closely watching the implementation of the new Act,
Meanwhile, the 2027 general elections are formerly scheduled to hold on February 20 for Presidential and National Assembly elections and March 6 for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections.
INEC may later change the dates for the general elections which bothered on religion concerns as some Muslim faithful hinging on the previous dates to clash with Ramadan festival