Electoral Act 2026: CSOs Say Nigeria Missed Historic Chance for Credible Electoral Reform
By Raphael Ekpang
A coalition of civil society organizations across Nigeria have expressed deep disappointment over the passage and signing of the Electoral Act 2026, describing it as a missed opportunity to deliver the bold and transformative reforms required to strengthen public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This, was made known on Thursday, February 19, during a world press conference held in Abuja by a coalition of civil society organisations such as; Centre for Media & Society, The Kukah Center, International Press Centre, ELECT HER, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, TAF Africa, Yiaga Africa and other partners.
Mr. Jake Epelle representing TAF Africa, in the coalition while acknowledging that the new law repeals and replaces the Electoral Act 2022, condemned the rushed and opaque legislative process that produced the final version of the Act.
“At a time when public confidence in elections remains fragile, Nigeria needed an Electoral Act that decisively strengthened transparency, eliminated ambiguities, and closed loopholes for manipulation. Instead, the Electoral Act 2026 introduces new vulnerabilities into the electoral process,” Mr. Epelle stated.
The coalition of civil societies while registering their concerns over legislative process raised alarm over reports that last-minute amendments were introduced into the harmonized Electoral Bill without adequate publication, scrutiny, or structured debate.
The coalition further criticized the adoption of the Conference Committee report through voice vote, with some lawmakers reportedly voting without reviewing the final consolidated text.
According to Epelle, electoral law is foundational to democratic legitimacy and must not be enacted through rushed, non-transparent procedures that exclude public participation.
Less Than 48 HrsPresidential Assent Despite Stakeholder Warnings
The Coalition noted that despite sustained public engagement, protests, and appeals to preserve key safeguards—including real-time electronic transmission of results—the Presidency granted assent without addressing substantive concerns raised by citizens and professional stakeholders.
They warned that this approach risks eroding public trust at a critical time in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
However, despite their reservations, the CSOs acknowledged certain progressive provisions in the Act, including:
Downloadable Voter Cards (Section 18), which may reduce disenfranchisement and increase voter participation;
Disability-Inclusive Voter Registration (Section 9), requiring voter register disaggregation by disability type for the first time;
Stronger Penalties for Result Falsification (Sections 62 and 71), including mandatory imprisonment for returning officers who manipulate results.
Key Areas Where the Act Falls Short
While addtessing the media, Mr. Epelle identified several dangerous gaps that could undermine electoral credibility such as;
Electronic Transmission Loophole.
Section 60(3) permits reliance on physical result forms where transmission fails due to “communication failure,” a term left undefined and open to abuse.
Compressed Electoral Timelines
Revised timelines for notice of elections and candidate submissions may increase logistical risks and pressure the electoral system.
Restrictions on INEC Review Powers
Section 65 limits the activation of election result reviews only to reports filed by INEC officials, excluding parties, candidates, observers, and agents.
Anti-Democratic Party Registration Fee
Section 75(6) imposes a ₦50 million fee for new party registration, effectively excluding grassroots and youth-led political movements.
Limited Options for Party Primaries
Section 84 restricts primaries to direct primaries or consensus, removing indirect primaries and reducing flexibility.
What Must Happen Now
The organizations stressed that assent is not the end of reform but the beginning of implementation monitoring.
They called on INEC to urgently:
Publish a revised 2027 election timetable in line with the new law;
Issue detailed regulations under Section 151, including clear standards for “communication failure”;
Conduct a nationwide IReV transmission simulation across all polling units and publish the findings.
Call to Political Parties and National Assembly
The civil society organisations urged political parties to publicly commit to defending electronic transmission and refusing to exploit technical ambiguities. They also called on the National Assembly to immediately publish the final signed version of the Electoral Act 2026 to ensure legal clarity and public awareness.
“The Electoral Act 2026 is now law. It is imperfect and incomplete. But it will govern the 2027 elections. Civil society will remain vigilant, vocal, and engaged to ensure that elections conducted under this framework are credible, inclusive, transparent, and reflective of the will of the Nigerian people.” Mr Epelle opined.
In his remarks, the house of representatives spokesperson Hon Akin Rotimi jnr who was present at the press conference reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th National Assembly to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process and ensuring that future elections are free, fair, transparent, and credible.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement on electoral reforms and national transitions, the lawmaker emphasized the need for continuous collaboration between Nigerians, civil society, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to identify existing gaps in election administration and address them promptly.
According to him, one of the key improvements introduced by the Electoral Act is the clear legal backing for electronic transmission of election results.
He cited Section 15(3) of the Electoral Act, which mandates the electronic transmission of results, particularly Form EC8A, from polling units.
He explained that manual collation is only a fallback option when electronic transmission becomes impossible due to technical or logistical challenges.
“It is mandatory that polling officials transmit results electronically. Manual processes are only secondary, not the primary system,” he noted.
The lawmaker also urged INEC to intensify public education, stressing that many Nigerians remain unaware of the provisions of the Electoral Act and the safeguards now embedded in the law.
He further supported calls by the coalition for INEC to make the Electoral Act widely accessible to citizens, noting that democratic participation requires public understanding of electoral rules and procedures.
Addressing concerns about accountability, he pointed to Sections 60 and 64, which provide strict penalties for any returning officer who deliberately fails to transmit election results.
“There are consequences clearly spelled out in the law for electoral misconduct. Nigerians must also be educated about these enforcement provisions,” he added.
The lawmaker highlighted other reforms introduced in the Act, including new requirements on political party consensus arrangements.
The press conference was graced by the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi jnr, Kogi and Plateau states Independent Electoral Commissions and the former Akwa Ibom state chairman of the electoral commission among others.
