Senate President Godswill Akpabio has described the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment), recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, as a groundbreaking and unprecedented reform in Nigeria's electoral history, the first of its kind since the nation's independence in 1960.
Speaking to State House correspondents shortly after the signing ceremony at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Senator Akpabio emphasized that the amended legislation represents a patriotic and thorough effort by the National Assembly to strengthen democracy, ensure transparency, and guarantee that every vote cast by Nigerians truly counts.
"This is a historic day for our nation," Senate President Akpabio stated. "For the first time since independence in 1960, Nigeria’s electoral law formally recognizes the electronic transmission of results. This landmark provision eliminates the persistent problem of result manipulation between polling units and collation centers, ushering in greater fairness, accountability, and credibility in our electoral process."
The Senate President highlighted that the amendments address long-standing concerns raised by Nigerians, civil society organizations, and election observers, particularly following challenges observed in previous elections.
By mandating electronic transmission of polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing Portal, the law promotes real-time visibility and reduces opportunities for alteration or falsification of results.
Senator Akpabio commended the collaborative spirit of lawmakers, noting that the process was painstaking yet reflective of the genuine aspirations of the Nigerian people rather than the interests of a noisy few.
"Noise is different from lawmaking," he remarked. "We have done a very thorough job. At the end of the day, Nigerians will benefit immensely from future elections. Every vote will now count, leading to more transparent, prosperous, and acceptable outcomes that meet both domestic and international standards.
President Tinubu's assent to the bill marks the culmination of extensive legislative deliberations, including clause-by-clause reviews in both chambers of the National Assembly. The amendments build on the foundation of the Electoral Act 2022 while introducing critical safeguards to enhance the integrity of elections ahead of future polls.
Senate President Akpabio reaffirmed the National Assembly's commitment to deepening democracy and called on all stakeholders political parties, election officials, citizens, and observers to embrace the new framework for the benefit of Nigeria's democratic journey.
The National Assembly remains dedicated to supporting reforms that promote free, fair, and credible elections, ensuring that the will of the people prevails.