President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law, days after the Independent National Electoral Commission released the timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The signing ceremony took place around 5:00 p.m. at the Presidential Villa, with principal officers of the National Assembly in attendance. The amended bill was passed by lawmakers on Tuesday.
The new amendment 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. They cited challenges during the 2023 elections, when INEC’s Results Viewing Portal reportedly failed, leading to widespread allegations of rigging.
While the ruling All Progressives Congress has expressed support for increased use of technology in elections, some stakeholders caution that weak telecommunications infrastructure in parts of the country may require a phased or hybrid approach, allowing manual collation where electronic systems are unavailable.
INEC has scheduled the 2027 general elections for February 20, covering the Presidential and National Assembly polls, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on March 6.