ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has won praise from supporters for his rapid sign-off on the 2026 Electoral Act, a move seen as a critical step toward stabilizing Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) officially endorsed the President’s decision to sign the bill into law within 24 hours of its passage by the National Assembly, describing it as a “demonstration of political will.”
‘A Sure Route’ to 2027
The group argues that the early assent provides the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the necessary lead time to implement significant technological and logistical reforms.
Key commendations from the TMSG include:
Legalizing Technology: The Act formally codifies the use of the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the IREV result portal—tools that were previously only INEC guidelines.
Logistical Flexibility: By reducing the mandatory election notice period from 360 to 300 days, the law allows INEC to avoid a 2027 election clash with the holy month of Ramadan.
Financial Security: The legislation mandates the early release of funds to the electoral body to prevent the last-minute scramble that has marred previous polls.
Strengthening the Vote
In a statement signed by Chairman Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary Dapo Okubanjo, the group highlighted that while technology is a “beautiful process,” the human element remains vital.”We agree with the President that no matter how beautiful a process is with improved technology, the onus lies on the people manning it to show good faith.”The group also pointed to stiffer sanctions for electoral fraud and the streamlining of party primaries as evidence that the new law will provide a “seamless” path to the next national vote.
Immediate Effect
The TMSG noted that the timing of the signing—just days before the Area Council Elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)—ensures the new law takes immediate effect.
This allows Nigerians to see the electronic transmission of results in action before the high-stakes 2027 cycle.
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