President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, says the newly amended Electoral Act will strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and ensure that every vote truly counts.
Speaking shortly after President Bola Tinubu assented to the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) Bill, Akpabio described the legislation as the product of painstaking legislative work and broad consultations across the country.
According to him, the National Assembly undertook a thorough and patriotic review of the law, taking into account the peculiarities of Nigeria’s electoral environment while resisting undue interference.
A lot of provisions in the amended Act will definitely make Nigerians very happy,” he said, expressing confidence that the reforms would lead to more transparent and credible elections in the future.
Akpabio explained that the amendment addresses public concerns about the electronic transmission of results, noting that the law now provides for results from polling units to be transmitted electronically to the viewing portal.
He added that where network challenges occur, results duly signed by presiding officers and party agents at the polling unit would serve as the primary record, to be uploaded once connectivity is restored.
He said the new safeguards would eliminate fears of result tampering during collation, as Nigerians would be able to compare polling unit results with figures uploaded to the portal.
The Senate President also disclosed that the amendment introduces broader internal democracy within political parties, including more inclusive direct primaries, allowing party members greater participation in the selection of candidates.
On his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, highlighted the adjustment of the notice period for elections from 360 days to 300 days.
He noted that the revision would help in planning future elections more effectively and address concerns about voter participation.
Both presiding officers expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the amendment process, maintaining that the new law marks a significant step toward deepening Nigeria’s democratic culture and improving public confidence in the electoral system.
(Editor: Ada Ononye)
