Figures cited by Channels TV show that President Bola Tinubu has officially assented to the 2026 Electoral Act Amendment Bill. During the signing ceremony, the President emphasized that the new law is designed to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic process from “technical glitches and unnecessary hacking.”
A key feature of the amendment is the refined approach to the electronic transmission of results, which aims to balance technological innovation with the need for a verifiable paper trail to maintain public trust in the electoral system.
According to Vanguard, the new Act has received praise from the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who applauded the President’s “swift assent” as a sign of commitment to credible elections.
However, the legislation remains controversial; some activists and opposition figures have criticized the provisions regarding electronic transmission, arguing they do not go far enough to mandate real-time transparency. The Presidency maintains that the adjustments are necessary to prevent the vulnerabilities exposed during the 2023 general elections.
Reporting by The Guardian indicates that the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are divided on the impact of the law.
While some see it as a step forward in cybersecurity, others, like former LP candidate Peter Obi, have raised concerns about the “police clampdown on protesters” who gathered to voice their opposition to certain clauses during the National Assembly debates.
The law is set to govern the upcoming FCT polls and the 2027 general elections.
Echotitbits take:
The focus on “hacking” suggests the government is leaning on security as a justification for more controlled result transmission. While technology is vital, the “human factor” and manual verification remain the battlegrounds for electoral integrity. Expect the 2027 elections to be a high-stakes test of whether these amendments actually build or erode voter confidence.
Source: Channels TV – https://www.channelstv.com/2026/02/18/breaking-tinubu-signs-electoral-bill-into-law/, and February 19, 2026
Photo credit: Channels TV
