Electoral Act: Akpabio, Abbas defend NASS, say new law will ensure transparency

Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas have defended the National Assembly’s amendments to the Electoral Act, assuring Nigerians that the new law will strengthen transparency and credibility in the 2027 general elections.

Both leaders spoke shortly after President Bola Tinubu assented to the amended Electoral Act at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Akpabio said the amendment process was thorough and designed to reflect the aspirations of Nigerians.

“A lot of provisions in the amended Act will definitely make Nigerians very happy. We did a very thorough and painstaking job, taking into account the peculiarities of our country,” he said.

“We believe strongly that what the President has just assented to will lead to better elections in the future, enhance transparency, and ensure that every vote counts.”

He explained that the amended law formally recognises the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV), allowing polling unit results to be transmitted electronically.

Akpabio noted that the amendment also takes into account areas with limited network coverage.

Read Also: Tinubu signs Electoral Act into law

“Polling unit results are documented on Form EC8A and signed by the presiding officer, party agents, and security officials. Even where there is no network, once the results reach an area with connectivity, they will be uploaded to the IReV portal,” he said.

“The implication is that Nigerians can compare results at every stage of collation. This will help eliminate tampering, which has historically been a major concern.”

He added that the law strengthens safeguards to ensure election results cannot be altered before being uploaded to INEC’s official portal.

The Senate President also said the amendment enhances internal democracy within political parties by empowering party members to participate more directly in candidate selection through primaries.

“This promotes participatory democracy and inclusiveness. Party members can now vote directly for their candidates, rather than relying solely on delegates,” he said.

He further explained that the law addresses situations where a declared winner is later disqualified by the courts.

“In such cases, fresh elections will now be conducted rather than automatically declaring the runner-up as winner, especially where constitutional requirements such as spread are not met,” he said.

Akpabio described the amendment as the result of extensive legislative work, noting that lawmakers sacrificed recess periods to complete the process.

“We are satisfied that we have responded to the aspirations of Nigerians and laid the foundation for more transparent elections,” he said.

Speaking separately, Abbas said the amended law reduces the minimum notice period required for elections from 360 days to 300 days.

He explained that the adjustment would allow the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections to be held earlier in the year.

“This amendment will make it possible to conduct elections in January 2027, thereby avoiding the Ramadan period and helping to improve voter participation,” Abbas said.

He described the amendment as a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system and deepening democratic governance.

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