The President of Nigeria-Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re‑Enactment) Bill 2026, into law.
After heated debates on how election results should be shared and the timing of poll notices, lawmakers in both chambers agreed on a version of the bill and sent it to the president for approval.
The Senate’s passage of the bill drew reactions from Nigerians, civil society groups, and former electoral officials, some of whom questioned whether the law fully reflects the modern reforms citizens expected.
A key point of debate focused on how results from polling units are transmitted to the central tallying system. The final law keeps electronic transmission as the main method but allows manual backup forms in case of technological or network failures.
Before signing, the National Assembly also adjusted the timeframe for issuing election notices, shortening the mandatory period to prevent the next general elections from falling during sensitive periods such as Ramadan.
These changes were made to reduce potential legal and logistical challenges ahead of the 2027 polls. The new Electoral Act will now guide Nigeria’s voting process in the lead‑up to the elections.
This marks the end of a long and intense process in the National Assembly to update Nigeria’s main election rules.
