Abuja, February 18, 2026 — President Bola Tinubu has signed the Electoral Act (Amendment) 2026 into law, affirming that electronic transmission of election results in Nigeria will serve as a supportive mechanism rather than a replacement for manual collation.
The signing ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, around 5:00pm, with principal officers of the National Assembly in attendance, just days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the timetable for the 2027 general elections. Presidential and National Assembly polls are scheduled for February 20, while governorship and state assembly elections will hold on March 6.
Speaking after assenting to the bill, President Tinubu commended the National Assembly for what he described as a rigorous and patriotic process aimed at safeguarding democratic stability and preventing voter disenfranchisement.
“The essence of democracy is solid discussions committed to national development and the stability of the nation. What is crucial is that there will be no confusion and no disenfranchisement of Nigerians,” Tinubu said, emphasizing that technology will enhance elections but human management and public trust remain central.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio noted that the amendment ensures every vote counts and curbs result manipulation between polling units and collation centres. He explained that electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal will operate alongside manual EC8A forms, signed by presiding officers, party agents, and security personnel, particularly in areas with limited network coverage.
“The implication is that Nigerians can now compare results uploaded to the portal with what is collated at ward, local government, and state levels, making tampering after polling units nearly impossible,” Akpabio said. The amendment also mandates fresh elections where court rulings disqualify winners, replacing the practice of declaring runners-up.
House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen highlighted a reduction of the election notice period from 360 to 300 days, which will likely prevent elections from overlapping with Ramadan, reducing voter apathy.
However, the bill has drawn criticism. Former Cross River State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini, faulted the retention of manual collation, warning that it could compromise presiding officers’ safety and undermine electoral credibility.
“Retaining manual backup could reintroduce the notorious incident form abuse and put ad hoc staff at risk while political elites remain insulated,” Igini said, stressing that the judiciary must uphold electoral integrity and resolve disputes swiftly. He cautioned that discretionary network availability could be manipulated, citing past elections where communication systems were allegedly jammed.
Despite these concerns, Igini urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, highlighting the judiciary, security agencies, media, and civil society as key to safeguarding the electoral process. “Democracy is not self-executing. Every arm of government and stakeholder must act responsibly,” he said.
The Electoral Act Amendment 2026 marks a historic first in Nigeria, formally recognizing electronic transmission of results while balancing it with traditional manual safeguards to strengthen transparency and public confidence in the nation’s elections.
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