President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law, days after the Independent National Electoral Commission released the timetable for the 2027 general elections.

The signing ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa around 5:00 pm, with principal officers of the National Assembly in attendance. The legislature had passed the amendment bill on Tuesday.

The new law has reignited debate over the electronic transmission of election results. Civil society organisations and opposition figures have continued to press for real-time upload of results from polling units to INEC’s central server, arguing that it would reduce manipulation and boost electoral credibility.

Last week, protesters disrupted activities at the National Assembly, demanding live transmission of results and citing challenges during the 2023 elections, when INEC’s Results Viewing Portal reportedly collapsed, fuelling allegations of rigging.

While the ruling All Progressives Congress supports increased use of technology in elections, some stakeholders caution that poor telecommunications infrastructure in parts of the country may require a phased or hybrid system, combining electronic transmission with manual collation where necessary.

The 2027 general elections are scheduled for February 20 (Presidential and National Assembly) and March 6 (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly).