By Our Reporter
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 into law following its passage by the National Assembly.
The legislation, which amends the existing electoral framework ahead of the 2027 general elections, was passed after months of deliberations and intense debate, particularly over the method for transmitting election results.
At the Nigerian Senate, proceedings turned rowdy during consideration of Clause 60, which addresses the electronic transmission of results. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe demanded a division on the clause, opposing a proviso that permits manual transmission where electronic transmission fails.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio presided over the vote. After a headcount, 55 senators supported retaining the proviso allowing manual transmission in the event of network failure, while 15 opposed it.
The chamber had earlier dissolved into a committee of the whole to reconsider the bill clause by clause after a motion for rescission was seconded. Tensions rose during deliberations, prompting a closed-door session.
A similar disagreement played out in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers protested a motion to rescind an earlier decision adopting compulsory real-time electronic transmission of results. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas ruled in favour of the motion after a voice vote, despite loud objections from some members, and subsequently called for an executive session.
The new law is expected to shape the conduct of the 2027 elections, particularly regarding the transmission and collation of results.