Electoral Act 2026 Under Fire: IPAC Declares 'Power is Transient, History Judges All'

 IPAC reiterated its long-standing position that mandatory electronic transmission of election results—directly from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) Result Viewing (IReV) portal—must remain the bare minimum standard for ensuring transparency, credibility, and public trust in the electoral system. The group criticized any provisions that introduce provisos or fallback options (such as manual transmission in cases of network failure), warning that these could undermine the gains made in previous electoral reforms and reopen doors to manipulation.

The statement emphasized accountability beyond the present moment:

“Power is transient. Decisions taken or neglected while in office will ultimately either protect or haunt public officials when they leave power. History remains the impartial judge of all actions.”

This caution comes against the backdrop of intense national debate following President Tinubu's signing of the bill into law on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The president defended the assent, stating that credible elections depend more on human oversight and proper management than on exclusive reliance on real-time electronic transmission, and he commended lawmakers for addressing potential vulnerabilities like hacking risks.

IPAC's intervention underscores a growing call from opposition-aligned and civil society voices for reforms that prioritize verifiable, tamper-proof processes to rebuild confidence in Nigeria's electoral framework.

As the country prepares for future polls, the council urged leaders to prioritize measures that genuinely enhance democracy rather than risk eroding public faith. The full weight of history, IPAC warned, awaits those who fail to heed such cautions.