President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law, just days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the timetable for the 2027 general elections. The signing ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, around 5:00 pm, with principal officers of the National Assembly in attendance.
The National Assembly had passed the bill the previous day, marking a key milestone in the country’s preparations for the 2027 polls.
The amendment has reignited debates over the electronic transmission of election results. Civil society groups and opposition figures have long advocated for real-time transmission of results from polling units to INEC’s central server, arguing that it would reduce manipulation and strengthen electoral credibility.
Protesters disrupted the National Assembly complex last week to demand live transmission, citing failures during the 2023 elections when INEC’s Results Viewing Portal collapsed, sparking widespread allegations of rigging.
While the ruling All Progressives Congress supports the adoption of technology in elections, some stakeholders argue that areas with poor telecommunications infrastructure may require a phased or hybrid approach, allowing manual collation where electronic systems fail.
The 2027 general elections are scheduled to hold on February 20 for the Presidential and National Assembly polls, and March 6 for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
