President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, despite protests and sharp divisions in the National Assembly over key provisions of the legislation.
The bill was transmitted to the President after its passage by the National Assembly on Tuesday, following months of rigorous debate, public scrutiny, and political disagreements. Demonstrators had earlier gathered in Abuja to oppose aspects of the proposed law.
At the Senate, deliberations turned heated during consideration of Clause 60, which addresses the electronic transmission of election results. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC, Abia South) demanded a division on the clause, triggering a tense and rowdy session that exposed deep disagreements among lawmakers over the future of electronic voting and result transmission in Nigeria.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio initially stated that he believed the request for a division had been withdrawn, a position challenged by opposition senators who insisted on a formal vote. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin cited Order 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, arguing that revisiting a provision already ruled upon would be procedurally improper, a submission that further heightened tensions.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele clarified that he had earlier moved a motion for rescission, effectively nullifying prior decisions on the bill and reopening it for fresh consideration. Abaribe subsequently invoked Order 72(1) to demand a division specifically on Clause 60(3), objecting to the provision permitting reliance on Form EC8A where electronic transmission fails. He argued that allowing manual transmission in cases of network failure could weaken electoral transparency.
During the vote, 15 senators opposed retaining the clause, while 55 voted in support, ensuring the controversial provision remained in the bill.
Earlier, the Senate had temporarily stepped down proceedings to reconsider the legislation clause by clause after concerns emerged about the timing of the 2027 general elections and technical inconsistencies within the draft. Bamidele explained that the reconsideration followed an announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission fixing the elections for February 2027, which some lawmakers said conflicted with Clause 28 requiring polls to be held at least 360 days before the expiration of tenure.
He also raised concerns that scheduling elections during Ramadan could negatively impact voter turnout, logistics, and overall inclusiveness. Lawmakers further identified discrepancies in the bill’s long title and multiple clauses, prompting detailed review before its eventual passage.
The controversy also spilled into the House of Representatives, where opposition lawmakers staged a walkout over attempts to rescind earlier amendments related to electronic transmission of results. The crisis began after Francis Waive, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, moved a motion to reverse the chamber’s prior approval of the bill passed on December 23, 2025.
When Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put the motion to a voice vote, opposition members protested, alleging that the “nays” were louder than the “ayes.” Despite the objections, the Speaker ruled in favour of the motion, sparking further uproar.
An executive session convened to ease tensions failed to resolve the dispute, and proceedings degenerated into disorder. Some lawmakers physically blocked Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu from continuing with plenary, while others staged a mass walkout in protest.
With the President’s assent, the re-enacted Electoral Act now becomes law, setting the legal framework for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections amid ongoing debate over the safeguards for electronic transmission of results.
