Debate over the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026 intensified on Sunday, as Nigerians expressed mixed reactions to the law that will regulate the 2027 general elections.
The issues were extensively discussed during a live Citizens’ Townhall broadcast on Channels Television. The programme, which focused on what the new legislation means for voters and the upcoming elections, gave citizens the opportunity to raise concerns, particularly about the controversial provisions on electronic transmission of results.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, addressed the Commission’s preparedness and the technical challenges ahead. He identified network limitations as a major operational concern but insisted that transmission itself is not the core problem.
According to him, the strength of any election lies in its logistical capacity. While admitting that achieving a perfectly flawless election may not be immediately possible, he assured Nigerians that steps are being taken to prevent a repeat of past technical failures. He disclosed that INEC plans to organise a mock presidential election to thoroughly test its result-transmission system before 2027.
Civil society raises concerns
Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, criticised the National Assembly’s decision to retain manual transmission as an alternative. He argued that only real-time electronic transmission can guarantee transparency and restore public trust.
Former INEC National Commissioner, Okechukwu Ibeanu, also pointed to gaps and loopholes in the law. He warned against the constant alteration of electoral legislation, stressing that systemic reforms and citizen vigilance are more critical than legal adjustments alone.
Similarly, former INEC ICT Director, Chidi Nwafor, highlighted the vital roles of security agencies and the judiciary in safeguarding electoral integrity. Another former Director of Voter Education at INEC, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, questioned who would determine when network failure occurs if manual collation is triggered.
However, Oluwadara Oluwalana of the Nigerian Society of Engineers maintained that Nigeria possesses the technological capacity to deploy electronic transmission effectively, provided telecom operators collaborate.
Lawmakers defend amendments
Chairman of the conference committee on the Electoral Act amendment, Adebayo Balogun, stated that Form EC8A remains the foundational document for result collation. Meanwhile, Senator Victor Umeh described the INEC Result Viewing portal (IReV) as a transformative tool designed to curb manipulation through electronic upload of results.
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, rejected claims that the Act favours the ruling party. He defended the decision to allow politicians from opposition parties to defect to the APC, describing it as legitimate political competition.
In contrast, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Sam Amadi, expressed doubt over INEC’s level of preparedness. Former ActionAid Country Director, Ene Obi, also raised concerns about campaign spending limits, warning that financial barriers could limit participation by less wealthy aspirants.
Key provisions of the new law
The Electoral Act 2026 was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on February 18, 2026, replacing the 2022 legislation ahead of the 2027 polls. Among its major provisions are mandatory electronic transmission of results to the IReV portal, formal recognition of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), revised timelines for election notices and party primaries, and earlier funding release for INEC.
While the government maintains that the amendments aim to enhance transparency, opposition parties and civil society groups argue that discretionary powers granted during technical failures could undermine credibility.
Under the revised timetable, presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
