National Assembly Passes Electoral Act Amendment Bill Ahead of 2027 Elections

 

In a session marked by high drama, protests, and internal divisions, Nigeria's National Assembly on Tuesday passed the harmonised version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, paving the way for potential adjustments to the 2027 general election timetable and settling a long-running debate over result transmission.

The bill, which repeals and re-enacts the Electoral Act 2022, introduces key changes including provisions for both real-time electronic transmission of election results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal and a manual fallback using Form EC8A in cases of network or technical failures (Clause 60(3)).

The House of Representatives, which had earlier passed a version emphasizing mandatory real-time electronic transmission without a manual backup, reversed its stance during an emergency plenary. Following a motion to rescind its previous decision (moved by Hon. Francis Waive and supported by the Committee on Electoral Matters), the chamber adopted the Senate-aligned position after heated debates and voice votes. Opposition lawmakers, frustrated by the outcome, staged a dramatic walkout, chanting protests against what they described as a dilution of electoral transparency.

Outside the National Assembly complex, police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators demanding unconditional electronic transmission to prevent manipulation in the 2027 polls.

In the Senate, which had rescinded its earlier passage of the bill, lawmakers amended Clause 28 to reduce the mandatory notice period for elections from 360 days to 300 days. This adjustment, moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, aims to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) flexibility to avoid scheduling the February 2027 elections during the Ramadan fasting period, which could impact voter turnout and logistics.

The Senate passed the amended bill after a division vote of 55–15 on key clauses, reflecting sharp divisions even within the majority party. Other changes include retaining direct primaries and consensus options for party nominations while removing indirect primaries.

Civil society organizations (CSOs) and transparency advocates have criticized the manual fallback provision, arguing it opens doors to potential abuse and undermines the gains of the 2022 Act. They have called on President Bola Tinubu to reject the bill or send it back for reconsideration. However, supporters maintain that the dual transmission method provides a practical safeguard against infrastructural challenges in Nigeria's diverse terrain.

The clean copy of the bill is now being prepared for transmission to President Tinubu for assent. If signed into law, INEC could review and adjust the 2027 election timetable accordingly, potentially shifting presidential and National Assembly polls to late January or early February to accommodate religious observances.

This development comes amid growing scrutiny of electoral reforms as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, with stakeholders emphasizing the need for credible, inclusive, and technology-resilient processes to build public trust in the democratic system.