iDeemlawfulPresident Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026 into law, paving the way for notable adjustments ahead of the 2027 general election.
The brief ceremony took place at the President’s office in the State House, Abuja, with principal officers of the National Assembly in attendance, coming a day after the bill was approved by lawmakers.
The fresh amendment follows intense nationwide debates over electoral reforms, especially concerns surrounding real-time electronic transmission of results and public confidence in the voting system.
Speaking shortly after assenting to the bill, Tinubu commended the National Assembly for what he termed “solid brainstorming discussions” aimed at reinforcing democracy and ensuring national stability.
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“The essence of democracy is to have very solid brainstorming discussions committed to national development and nation building, the stability of the nation,” he said.
He emphasised that beyond the historic value of the amendment, the priority is to guarantee elections are organised in a manner that prevents confusion and safeguards voters’ rights.
“What is crucial is the fact that you manage the process to the extent there will be no confusion, no disenfranchisement of Nigerians; and we are all going to see democracy flourish,” the President added.
Tinubu further highlighted the importance of human integrity within the electoral framework, stressing that systems, no matter how advanced, are ultimately operated by individuals.
“No matter how good a system is, it’s managed by the people, promoted by the people, and result is finalised by the people,” he said. “For final results, you are not going to be talking to the computer. You are going to be talking to human beings who announce the results.”
As Nigerians prepare for 2027, here are 11 essential points every citizen should understand about the new Electoral Act and its potential impact on the next election.
- Election Funding Certainty
Under the newly enacted law, funds for elections must be released to INEC at least one year before a general election. This is expected to enhance operational readiness, strengthen procurement planning, and limit undue executive interference.
- Revised Election Notice Timeline
The amendment reduces the notice period for elections by 60 days, from 360 days to 300 days.
This adjustment grants INEC flexibility to schedule elections between December 2026 and January 2027.
The amended Clause 28 of the act states: “The Commission shall, not later than 300 days before the day appointed for holding of an election under this Bill, publish notice for each State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory – the date of the election; and (b) appoint the place where they will deliver nomination papers.”
- Streamlined Candidate Nomination Process
The timeline for submitting candidate lists has been shortened from 180 days to 120 days before election day.
This compresses the window for intra-party disputes and enables earlier resolution of pre-election cases, allowing greater focus on substantive electoral matters.
- Statutory Codification of BVAS
The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is now explicitly backed by law, removing administrative ambiguity and strengthening electronic accreditation to curb overvoting and manipulation.
- Mandated Electronic Transmission
Electronic transmission of Form EC8A results to the IReV portal is now compulsory, ensuring that valid votes are properly captured. The law also provides safeguards for rare instances where transmission may not be feasible, preserving credibility.
- Stronger Criminal Sanctions for Collation Infractions
Deliberate false declarations or intentional breaches of collation procedures now carry a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine, boosting deterrence and accountability.
- Statutory Backing for IReV
The law provides legal backing for electronic transmission of results to INEC’s result viewing portal (IReV), while permitting manual collation as a fallback where technology fails.
However, it stops short of enforcing real-time electronic uploads of results.
Under the amendment, where electronic transmission is disrupted due to network or communication issues, the manually completed EC8A form becomes the primary basis for collation and declaration.
- Reinforced Overvoting Controls
Enhanced cross-check mechanisms are introduced at the collation stage to automatically detect and cancel results that exceed accredited voter figures, reducing manipulation risks at aggregation centres.
- Clarified Seven-Day Review Authority
Clear procedural triggers now guide INEC’s seven-day review of results declared under duress, offering a limited administrative correction window before litigation begins.
- Digital Verification of Party Membership Registers
Political parties must now maintain verifiable digital membership databases, strengthening internal democracy and limiting factional interference within party structures.
- Delegates Removed from Party Primary Elections
The new law abolishes indirect primaries, commonly known as the delegate system, in selecting party candidates. Political parties can no longer depend on a limited group of delegates to determine candidates.
Under the revised framework, candidates may only emerge through direct voting by all registered party members or through consensus where aspirants agree on a single candidate and others voluntarily withdraw.
In effect, candidate selection authority now lies with every registered party member, reinforcing a “one member, one vote” approach rather than concentrating power in a select few.
Although no law can fully satisfy all interests or political leanings, the Electoral Act Amendment 2026 represents a significant shift in the planning, conduct, and oversight of Nigeria’s elections ahead of 2027. Its effectiveness, however, will rest not merely on the legislation itself but on faithful implementation by INEC, political parties, candidates, and other stakeholders.