President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday signed the Electoral Act 2026 into law, completing a key step in Nigeria’s election legal framework just months before the 2027 general elections.
The Electoral Act 2026, officially the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, had been passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives after months of debate and revision.
The amended Electoral Act now replaces the 2022 version following the President's signature, which also reflects the new law’s effect.
The new law introduces a number of changes to Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of next year’s polls, scheduled for 20th February 2027 for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and 6th March 2027 for governorship and state assembly contests.
One of the major changes to the bill before it became law was the revision of the mandatory notice period for elections.
Senators had reduced the notice period for election announcements from 360 days to 300 days to avoid clashes with religious observances like Ramadan, which had been a point of concern for voter turnout and logistics.
The Act also includes provisions on how election results are transmitted, allowing for electronic transmission but retaining manual backups if digital systems fail.
Some lawmakers and civil society advocates had pushed for real-time electronic transmission from polling units to increase transparency, a debate that shaped discussions in the National Assembly.
President Tinubu’s assent marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s preparations for its next general elections, giving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a new legal framework under which to operate and issue fresh electoral guidelines.
