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

Debate Over Real-Time Transmission

The amendment follows heightened public debate over the electronic transmission of election results.

Last week, protests erupted at the National Assembly complex as civil society organisations and opposition figures demanded that the law mandate real-time transmission of polling unit results directly to INEC’s central server. Protesters argued that such a measure would curb manipulation and strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.

However, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other stakeholders raised concerns about the technical feasibility of full real-time transmission, particularly in areas with weak telecommunications infrastructure. They advocated a phased or hybrid system that would permit manual collation where electronic systems fail.

Background: 2023 Portal Controversy

During the 2023 general elections, glitches with INEC’s Results Viewing Portal fueled allegations of irregularities and undermined public confidence in the process, intensifying calls for reforms.

2027 Election Dates

INEC has scheduled the 2027 general elections as follows:

February 20, 2027 – Presidential and National Assembly elections

March 6, 2027 – Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections

The amended law is expected to shape the framework for the conduct of the upcoming polls, with attention now turning to how INEC will implement the new provisions.