The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) strongly condemns the rushed assent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, signed into law barely 24 hours after its passage by the National Assembly.
The lightning speed with which this controversial bill was enacted—despite heated objections in both chambers—raises serious concerns about transparency, democratic consultation, and respect for the will of the Nigerian people.
For months, millions of Nigerians, civil society organisations, and opposition lawmakers have consistently demanded mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results as a safeguard against manipulation and undue political interference. Instead, the National Assembly, dominated by the ruling APC, inserted a contentious provision under Clause 60(3) permitting manual transmission of results in cases of “network challenges” or “unforeseen circumstances.”
To CHRICED, this provision represents a clear setback for electoral transparency and undermines public confidence in the integrity of Nigeria’s elections. Mandatory electronic transmission would significantly reduce result tampering, limit political interference, and minimise post-election litigation. Yet, the National Assembly chose to discard a people-oriented reform and secured presidential assent without genuine public engagement.
While signing the bill, President Tinubu argued that election credibility depends more on human management than on real-time electronic transmission. However, the Nigerian people—whose participation forms the foundation of democracy—have overwhelmingly rejected manual transmission. Ignoring this consensus undermines democratic participation and weakens institutional safeguards designed to prevent manipulation.
It is important to remind the President and the National Assembly that Nigeria’s telecommunications operators, under the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), have publicly affirmed that the country has the capacity for real-time electronic transmission of results. The Nigerian Society of Engineers has corroborated this position. Furthermore, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) successfully deployed Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) during the 2015 presidential election, generating real-time results with a budget far below 0.05% of INEC’s allocation.
Major operators—including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and 9mobile—have all dismissed claims of inadequate network coverage as outdated and misleading. The “network limitation” argument therefore collapses under scrutiny.
CHRICED views this development as a direct indictment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). If over ₦300 billion has already been spent on electoral technology, and an estimated ₦873.78 billion is proposed for the 2027 general elections, how can “internet glitches” still justify reverting to manual transmission? Are Nigerians being told that despite massive investments in BVAS and digital infrastructure, credible elections must still rely on a manual process vulnerable to manipulation? This contradiction is unacceptable.
The speed of presidential assent is unsurprising given previous instances where controversial legislation was swiftly approved despite public outcry, such as the abrupt change of the national anthem earlier in the administration. Equally unsurprising is the posture of the 10th National Assembly, widely perceived as a rubber-stamp legislature under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio.
What is truly troubling is the urgency accorded to this amendment while several critical bills—such as comprehensive electoral offences legislation, constitutional amendments on devolution of powers, and key economic and anti-corruption reforms—remain unattended.
Electoral laws must inspire confidence, not suspicion. The hurried assent to this amendment sends the wrong signal ahead of future elections. Rather than strengthening transparency, it widens loopholes and increases the likelihood of post-election disputes.
CHRICED urges citizens to hold lawmakers accountable, particularly the 55 senators who voted against mandatory electronic transmission. Nigerians should use all lawful and democratic means, including recall processes, to ensure that those who obstruct electoral progress do not return to the legislature in 2027.
Finally, there is an urgent need to amend the section of the Constitution that grants the President exclusive power to appoint all INEC commissioners. Until this is addressed, Nigeria will continue to have an electoral commission more accountable to the executive than to the Nigerian people.
Call to Action
CHRICED calls on:
- The National Assembly to urgently review Clause 60(3) and make electronic transmission of results mandatory.
- INEC to publicly clarify its technological capacity and justify the integrity of its investments.
- Civil society, professional bodies, youth groups, and the media to intensify advocacy for transparent electoral reforms and expose actions that undermine democratic progress.
- Nigerians to demand accountability and insist that their democratic will is respected.
The President swore an oath to act in the interest of Nigerians. That oath requires him to uphold the will of the people. Any deviation erodes trust and deepens perceptions of institutional compromise.
Conclusion
Democracy thrives not on speed, but on legitimacy. Not on executive haste, but on public trust. Not on manual loopholes, but on transparent systems.
The will of Nigerians must prevail.
CHRICED remains unwavering in its commitment to defending electoral integrity, institutional independence, and the sanctity of the ballot.
Signed:
Comrade Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi
Executive Director