Kingsley Ohens reporting
February 19, 2026 | Abuja, Nigeria
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday signed into law amendments to Nigeria’s 2022 Electoral Act, describing the development as a pivotal step in deepening the country’s democratic process and reinforcing public confidence in the electoral system.
The signing ceremony, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, followed extensive deliberations at the National Assembly. The President said he had closely followed debates on the proposed amendments and commended lawmakers for what he characterized as a thorough and orderly legislative process.
“There has been no confusion, no disenfranchisement of Nigerians, and we are all going to see democracy flourish,” Tinubu said, underscoring the importance of consensus-building in governance.
He noted that democracy thrives on robust engagement and constructive debate, adding that the amendment process reflected the spirit of nation-building and institutional strengthening. “The essence of democracy is to have solid, brainstorming discussions committed to national development, nation-building, and the stability of the nation,” he said. “It is time that we have confidence in our system. No matter how good the system is, it is managed by the people, promoted by the people, and the people finalize the results.”
Addressing controversies that preceded the passage of the amendments, the President emphasized the continued relevance of manual processes within Nigeria’s electoral framework, even as technological tools are expanded to enhance transparency. He explained that voting at polling units remains largely manual, with ballot papers issued, marked, and counted physically in the presence of voters and officials.
“It is still manual, essentially,” Tinubu said, referring to ballot casting and counting procedures. “The transmission of that manual result is what we are looking at. We need to avoid glitches, interference, and unnecessary hacking in this age of computer inquisitiveness.”
The President also raised concerns about the country’s digital infrastructure, particularly broadband capacity, stressing that technological readiness would be crucial to achieving seamless real-time transmission of results. He expressed confidence, however, that Nigeria would continue to improve its technical capabilities ahead of future elections.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the day as significant, noting that the National Assembly had worked for two years to finalize the amendments in time for implementation before the next general elections. He said the revised law provides sufficient time for the Independent National Electoral Commission to undertake necessary procurements and issue an appropriate electoral timetable.
Akpabio stated that the amendments contain provisions aimed at strengthening transparency and ensuring elections that are free, fair, and credible both domestically and internationally. He acknowledged that some lawmakers expressed differing views during deliberations but described such disagreements as intrinsic to democratic practice.
“As soon as you sign this, you will have made history as the first president to introduce electronic transmission of results from polling units to the entire world,” he said, highlighting the integration of the IReV portal, which allows for real-time viewing of results across polling units, with synchronization capabilities where network connectivity is limited.
Also present at the signing ceremony were Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior government officials.
With the amended Electoral Act now in force, attention is expected to shift to implementation and preparations by electoral authorities. Observers note that the impact of the reforms will depend largely on effective execution, institutional capacity, and sustained public trust as Nigeria continues its efforts to consolidate democratic governance.
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