JUST IN: Tinubu Approves New Electoral Bill

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 into law, concluding months of debate in the National Assembly and public protests over key provisions in the legislation.

The bill was passed on Tuesday after extended deliberations in both chambers, where disagreements centred largely on Clause 60, which addresses the transmission of election results. The provision allows the use of Form EC8A for manual collation where electronic transmission fails, a safeguard that critics argue could weaken transparency.

In the Senate, proceedings grew tense when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe demanded a division on Clause 60(3), opposing the section that permits manual transmission in the event of network failure. He maintained that the clause creates room for manipulation and should be removed entirely.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio initially indicated that the request for a division had been withdrawn, a position disputed by opposition lawmakers who insisted that the matter remained open and required a formal vote.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 out of order, a submission that further unsettled the chamber.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele clarified that an earlier motion for rescission had nullified previous decisions on the bill, making Abaribe’s demand consistent with Senate procedure. Following a division ordered by Akpabio, 55 senators voted to retain the clause, while 15 opposed it, ensuring that the disputed provision remained in the final version of the bill.

Earlier, lawmakers had rescinded the bill’s previous passage after concerns emerged over the timing of the 2027 general elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission had announced February 2027 as the proposed date, prompting questions about compliance with Clause 28 of the bill, which mandates that elections be held at least 360 days before the expiration of tenure. Lawmakers also pointed to drafting inconsistencies across multiple clauses before resolving into the Committee of the Whole to reconsider the legislation.

The House of Representatives recorded similar tensions. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas ruled in favour of a motion to rescind earlier approval of the bill following a voice vote, despite objections from opposition members who challenged the outcome. The decision triggered protests on the floor, and an executive session convened to restore order failed to calm the situation. Some lawmakers blocked Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu from continuing proceedings before several members staged a walkout.

Outside the National Assembly complex in Abuja, demonstrators protested aspects of the bill, particularly the retention of provisions allowing manual transmission of results under certain conditions. With presidential assent secured, the new law replaces the 2022 Electoral Act and will govern preparations for the 2027 general elections, even as debate over its implementation continues.