President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday signed the amended 2022 Electoral Act into law, declaring that the reforms will strengthen Nigeria’s democracy while retaining critical manual safeguards in the voting process.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Tinubu said he closely monitored deliberations in the National Assembly, praising lawmakers for a transparent process that avoided confusion and disenfranchisement.
“The essence of democracy is to have solid brainstorming discussions committed to national development, nation-building, and stability,” the President said.
Addressing controversy surrounding the amendments, Tinubu stressed that human participation remains indispensable in elections, arguing that Nigeria’s technological capacity cannot yet support a fully automated system.
He noted that voting, accreditation, and ballot counting remain largely manual, with technology primarily used to transmit results.
“As long as you appear personally as a voter, a ballot is given to you manually. You decide, fingerprint your choice, and cast your vote without interference,” he said.
Tinubu also raised concerns about broadband reliability, cybersecurity risks, and potential system glitches, warning that overdependence on technology could expose elections to hacking and disruptions.
“The transmission of that manual result is what we’re looking at, and we must avoid glitches, interference, and unnecessary hacking,” he added.
On his part, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the signing as a “significant day,” revealing that the National Assembly spent two years refining the legislation to ensure timely implementation ahead of the next general election.
He said the amendments would enable the Independent National Electoral Commission to begin procurement and release an election timetable.
According to Akpabio, the revised law introduces provisions to ensure free, fair, and internationally acceptable elections, including the use of electronic transmission tools supported by the IReV viewing portal.
“We have made all the necessary inclusions to ensure Nigerians and the international community will be happy, and that elections will be easier for INEC to conduct,” he said.
He acknowledged disagreements among lawmakers during debate, describing dissent as “the beauty of democracy.”
Other dignitaries at the ceremony included Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and senior National Assembly officials.
The presidency said the amendments are designed to balance technological innovation with operational realities, positioning the country for more credible elections while strengthening public confidence in the democratic process.
