The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has justified President Bola Tinubu’s decision to assent to the Electoral Act 2026 within 24 hours of its passage by the National Assembly, insisting the speed reflected prior institutional collaboration rather than executive haste.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Bamidele said the amendment bill was jointly developed by the National Assembly, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations, and development partners.
“It is a collective work that involves nearly all critical stakeholders,” he stated, arguing that there was no need for prolonged executive review because inputs from the executive arm had already been incorporated during legislative deliberations.
Clause 60 Remains Flashpoint
Despite the defence, controversy continues to trail Clause 60 of the Electoral Act 2026, which makes the electronic transmission of election results discretionary rather than mandatory.
The clause prescribes a ₦500,000 fine or six months’ imprisonment for any presiding officer who wilfully frustrates electronic transmission. However, civil society groups have argued that optional language could create procedural gaps capable of undermining transparency safeguards introduced under the 2022 electoral framework.
Several observer groups had urged the President to withhold assent pending revisions to mandate electronic transmission outright. The bill was nevertheless signed into law shortly after legislative approval.
Legislative Framing: Reform, Not Rollback
Bamidele maintained that the amended law strengthens electoral governance.
He cited Clause 3, which establishes a special fund for INEC and requires financial releases at least six months before a general election, as a safeguard for institutional independence.
He also referenced Clause 47, mandating the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), describing it as a reinforcement of voter authentication mechanisms.
“The Electoral Act 2026 represents a consolidation and refinement of the country’s electoral governance framework,” he said.
Broader Implications
With the Act now in force, the national focus shifts from legislative passage to implementation.
Observers say INEC’s operational guidelines and field interpretation of Clause 60 will determine whether the discretionary provision enhances administrative flexibility or weakens result transmission safeguards.
For now, the debate surrounding the Electoral Act 2026 remains less about the timing of assent and more about the integrity architecture of Nigeria’s future elections.
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