As the result of much effort and national interest, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has praised the recently passed Electoral Act as a daring move toward bolstering Nigeria’s democracy.

Shortly after President Bola Tinubu signed the bill into law, he gave a speech at the State House in which he claimed that the legislators acted patriotically and defied pressure to pass the legislation.

Akpabio insisted that the National Assembly was attentive to Nigeria’s distinct political landscape and resisted being influenced by what he described as excessive meddling.

According to him, the lawmakers reflected the “intentions and yearnings of the majority of Nigerians,” and not “a few people who make noise.” He added, “Noise is different from lawmaking.”

Assuring Nigerians that their votes would now be more important than ever, the Senate President claimed that the modified Act will increase openness and fairness in next elections.

He clarified that the official acknowledgement of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System result viewer, or IReV, as an official and verifiable record of polling unit results is a key feature of the law.

“Once internet connectivity is restored, electronically transmitted results from polling units will appear on the IReV portal, even in areas with poor network coverage,” he said.

He pointed out that this clause would make it possible for voters and onlookers to spot any manipulation as the results are transferred from polling places to collation centers.

Akpabio called the development historic and emphasised that, for the first time since Nigeria earned independence in 1960, electronic results transmission is now officially recognised by law.

The Senate President mentioned several reforms included in the bill in addition to electronic transmission.

In order to lessen the power of a select few delegates, he claimed, party members would now have the chance to vote directly for candidates during primaries.

In addition, the new Act requires a new election in the event that a court rules that a leading candidate is ineligible, rather than automatically naming a runner-up with a notably lower number of votes as the victor.

The Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2026, as it was officially known, generated a great deal of discussion in the National Assembly.

Following a heated and occasionally boisterous session in the Senate chamber, senators passed the proposal on Tuesday.

As discussions continued, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe momentarily interrupted the proceedings by calling for a division over Clause 60.

A topic that has caused division among political actors and spectators nationwide, the debate mostly focused on how election results will be disseminated in advance of the general elections in 2027.

Notwithstanding the disputes, the measure was ultimately passed, paving the way for what proponents say is a new era in Nigerian elections.

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