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President Bola Tinubu has officially signed the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 into law. 

This move marks a major turning point for Nigeria's democracy, aiming to make our elections more transparent and reliable.

The signing happened on Wednesday at the State House in Abuja. High-ranking officials, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, were present to witness the historic moment.

The biggest takeaway from this new law is the formal approval of electronic transmission of results. However, to ensure nothing goes wrong, the Senate decided that manual collation will still be kept as a vital backup.

President Tinubu explained that while technology is the future, the human element remains the heartbeat of democracy. He noted that the manual process where you thumbprint your ballot and watch it being counted is still the foundation of a fair vote.

The President addressed concerns regarding Nigeria’s internet strength and the threat of cyber-attacks. He asked a pointed question: "How technically ready are we today to answer the call in real-time?"

By keeping the manual Form EC8A as the primary record, the government hopes to avoid "glitches" and "hacking" that could cause confusion or disenfranchise voters. 

The electronic system is there to ensure "arithmetic accuracy" and speed up the process.

Tinubu urged Nigerians to have confidence in the updated system. He stressed that the law isn't just about computers; it’s about ensuring every vote counts and every citizen is heard without interference.

With this new Act, the goal is clear: a more stable Nigeria where the results announced reflect the true will of the people.