President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday signed the amended Electoral Act into law, describing the move as a critical step toward strengthening democracy and enhancing electoral transparency in Nigeria.
The President said he closely followed deliberations on the bill at the National Assembly and commended its leadership for managing the process without confusion or disenfranchisement.
“The essence of democracy is to have very solid brainstorming discussions committed to national development, nation-building and the stability of the nation,” Tinubu said at the signing ceremony.
Addressing debates that preceded the bill’s passage, the President emphasised that while technology plays an important role in elections, the human element remains central to the voting process.
He noted that voting at polling units is still largely manual, from ballot issuance to vote counting, with electronic systems primarily supporting result transmission.
“The transmission of that manual result is what we’re looking at. And we need to avoid glitches, interference and unnecessary hacking,” he said, adding that improvements in broadband capacity would be crucial to ensuring seamless electronic processes.
Tinubu expressed confidence that the amended law would reinforce public trust in the electoral system.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the signing as historic, noting that both chambers of the National Assembly worked on the amendment for two years to ensure timely implementation ahead of upcoming elections.
He said the revised law includes provisions that would enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair elections acceptable to Nigerians and the international community.
Akpabio added that the law formally strengthens electronic transmission of results from polling units, supported by the IReV portal for public viewing.
Also present at the ceremony were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and Special Adviser on Senate Matters, Sen. Basheer Lado, among other principal officers.
The President thanked Nigerians for their engagement and support throughout the legislative process, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to democratic stability and credible elections.
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