President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed the Electoral Act 2022 Repeal and Re Enactment Bill 2026 into law, marking a major step in Nigeria’s ongoing electoral reform efforts.
The signing followed the passage of the bill by the National Assembly after months of deliberations aimed at strengthening the credibility and transparency of elections. Earlier, the Senate approved electronic transmission of election results while retaining manual collation as a backup mechanism.
The ceremony took place at the State House in Abuja in the presence of senior government officials, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila.
Speaking after signing the bill, Tinubu described the development as an important milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey and emphasised the need to build public trust in the electoral system.
He said democracy thrives on constructive national dialogue that promotes stability and nation building, adding that Nigerians must have confidence in the integrity of the electoral process.
According to the President, the new law is designed to ensure elections are conducted without confusion or disenfranchisement while preserving the central role of citizens in managing the democratic process.
Addressing the debate over electronic transmission of results, Tinubu noted that final announcements would still be handled by human officials. While technology will support transparency, he stressed the importance of assessing Nigeria’s broadband capacity and technical readiness.
He reaffirmed that voting at polling units would remain manual, with ballots counted and recorded before transmission.
The President also cautioned against technological disruptions, including hacking and system glitches, and expressed optimism that the law would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and promote national stability and prosperity
