President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday signed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 into law, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s electoral reform process.

The signing followed the passage of the bill by the National Assembly of Nigeria on Tuesday after months of rigorous deliberations and legislative scrutiny.

The new law has reignited nationwide debate over the electronic transmission of election results. Civil society organisations and opposition leaders have consistently advocated real time transmission of results from polling units directly to the central server of the Independent National Electoral Commission, arguing that it would boost transparency and reduce opportunities for manipulation.

Public protests erupted at the National Assembly complex last week, with demonstrators demanding mandatory live transmission of results. The agitation stems from controversies surrounding the 2023 Nigerian general elections, when technical glitches disrupted uploads to INEC’s Results Viewing Portal, fuelling public distrust.

While the All Progressives Congress has expressed support for deeper integration of technology in elections, some stakeholders are advocating a phased or hybrid approach. They argue that areas with limited telecommunications infrastructure should retain manual collation options where electronic systems fail.

With the Electoral Act now officially in force, attention is expected to shift to preparations for the 2027 Nigerian general elections as Nigeria continues efforts to strengthen its electoral process while balancing technological innovation with the realities of nationwide electoral logistics.

(NAN)