President Bola Tinubu has signed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 into law.
The signing came a day after the National Assembly passed the bill following months of debate and review. On Tuesday, the Senate approved the electronic transmission of election results while keeping manual collation as a backup option.
Tinubu signed the bill at the State House. Present at the ceremony were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, among other top government officials.
After signing the bill, the President said democracy depends on open discussions and commitment to national development. He stressed the need for Nigerians to have confidence in the electoral system.
He explained that what matters most is managing the election process in a way that avoids confusion and ensures that no voter is left out. According to him, democracy can only succeed when people trust the system.
Speaking on the debate over electronic transmission of results, Tinubu noted that final election results are announced by people, not computers. He said Nigerians should also consider the country’s technological capacity, including broadband strength, when discussing real-time electronic transmission.
The President pointed out that voting at polling units remains a manual process. Voters receive ballot papers, cast their votes privately, and the ballots are counted manually. He said what is transmitted electronically is the final result recorded on Form EC8A.
Tinubu added that it is important to avoid technical problems, interference, or hacking in the digital age. He expressed confidence that Nigeria’s democracy will continue to grow and that the country will remain stable and prosperous.
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