President Tinubu Signs the 2026 Electoral Act Into Law

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially signed the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2026 into law, establishing the legal foundation for the 2027 general elections. The signing ceremony, held at the State House in Abuja, was attended by top legislative leaders who praised the move as a step toward stabilizing Nigeria’s democratic processes. The President emphasized that the new law aims to eliminate ambiguities that have previously led to post-election litigations, while ensuring that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the legal backing to deploy advanced technology.

One of the most significant aspects of the new Act is the formalization of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as the mandatory tool for voter verification. However, the legislation has sparked immediate debate by retaining manual collation as a secondary requirement in instances where electronic systems might fail. While the government argues this is a pragmatic safeguard against hacking and poor internet infrastructure in rural areas, it has become a central point of contention for those advocating for a fully digital, real-time result transmission process.

Proponents of the bill, however, maintain that it balances the need for technological advancement with the realities of Nigeria's current infrastructure. As the country prepares for the 2027 cycle, all eyes will be on INEC to see how it interprets these new legal mandates and whether they will truly lead to the transparent and credible elections Nigerians are demanding.

Do you believe that keeping manual collation as a backup is a practical necessity for Nigeria, or does it undermine the goal of transparent electronic transmission? Share your comments below!

Share to: