By Abbanobi-Eku Onyeka
Abuja
The Senate has passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026, with key provisos intact, including the transmission of polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
The passage of the bill followed a motion by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, which was put to a division, with a majority of senators voting in support of the provisor allowing presiding officers to proceed to the next collation center in case of communication failure.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the passage of the bill, saying it was a major innovation in Nigeria’s electoral process. He thanked senators for their patriotism and for displaying democratic maturity.
The bill, which repeals the Electoral Act, 2022, and enacts the Electoral Act, 2026, regulates the conduct of federal, state, and area council elections in Nigeria.
Key provisions of the bill include the transmission of polling unit results to IReV, the use of polling unit results as the primary mode of collation, and the adoption of direct and consensus primaries for party nominations.
The Senate also adopted the report of the committee on the bill, which recommended the passage of the bill with some amendments.
The bill now awaits the concurrence of the House of Representatives before it is transmitted to the President for assent.
The passage of the bill is seen as a significant step towards improving Nigeria’s electoral process and ensuring transparency and accountability in the conduct of elections.
The Senate President commended senators for their cooperation and patience, saying it was a testament to their commitment to democratic governance.
However, the Senate has adjourned to 24 February, 2026.
