President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law, 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 around 5:00 pm, with principal officers of the National Assembly in attendance. The amendment bill was passed by the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The revised law has reignited debate over the electronic transmission of election results. Civil society organisations and opposition figures have consistently advocated real-time transmission from polling units to INEC’s central server, arguing it would reduce manipulation and enhance electoral credibility.
Last week, protesters disrupted activities at the National Assembly complex, demanding live transmission of results. The protests referenced challenges during the 2023 elections, when INEC’s Results Viewing Portal experienced technical failures, fueling allegations of rigging.
While the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) supports increased use of technology in elections, some stakeholders have called for a phased or hybrid approach, citing poor telecommunications infrastructure in parts of the country that may necessitate manual collation where electronic systems fail.
INEC has scheduled the 2027 general elections for February 20 (Presidential and National Assembly elections) and March 6 (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections).
