By Peter Omopo
President has signed the Electoral Act 2026 into law, following the repeal and re-enactment of the Electoral Act 2022, setting the legal framework for preparations toward the 2027 general elections.
The brief signing ceremony was attended by Senate President , Speaker of the House of Representatives , Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, and the President’s Chief of Staff, , among other senior government officials.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Tinubu described the new legislation as a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process. He noted that while technology plays an increasing role in elections, the country’s voting system remains largely manual and must be protected against technological glitches, cyber threats and infrastructural challenges.
According to him, credible elections depend on clear and practical procedures that prevent confusion and voter disenfranchisement, stressing that final election results are ultimately declared by designated officials.
The new law replaces the 2022 Electoral Act previously relied upon by the to issue the timetable for general elections.
One of the key changes is the reduction of the election notice period from 360 days to 300 days, granting the electoral commission greater flexibility in scheduling. The adjustment could allow national elections to hold as early as January 2027, potentially avoiding overlap with the Ramadan period.
Among its major provisions, the Act gives legal recognition to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). It also provides statutory backing for the electronic transmission of results, while retaining manually recorded Form EC8A as a safeguard in areas with poor network connectivity.
The legislation introduces stricter sanctions for collation irregularities, reinforces measures against overvoting, mandates digital verification of party membership registers, and abolishes indirect primaries, restricting political parties to either consensus or direct primaries for candidate selection.
Senate President Akpabio said the amendments reflect Nigeria’s unique electoral realities and public demand for greater transparency, particularly the electronic visibility of polling unit results, while preserving manual safeguards where necessary.
Speaker Tajudeen noted that shortening the notice period may help reduce voter apathy by preventing elections from clashing with major religious observances.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, , commended the President for granting swift assent to the bill, describing it as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to credible elections and democratic consolidation.
Political stakeholders across party lines have welcomed the development, expressing optimism that the reforms will enhance confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
