President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially signed the Electoral Act 2026 into law emphasizing that while computers facilitate the process, it is human beings who will ultimately announce the final results.
The President’s comments comes amidst nationwide debate and protests insisting on mandatory electronic transmission of results without a backup of traditional vote transmission.
During the signing ceremony held on Wednesday, the President commended the National Assembly for their solid brainstorming discussions and commitment to national development, noting that the stability of the nation relies on a process that avoids confusion and ensures no Nigerian feels disenfranchised.
A central theme of the President’s address was the balance between technological advancement and the necessity of human accountability in the electoral system.
While acknowledging the shift toward electronic transmission of results, President Tinubu emphasized that democracy is ultimately managed and finalized by the people rather than just machines.
He pointed out that while computers facilitate the process, it is human beings who will ultimately announce the final results, maintaining a layer of traditional oversight to bolster public confidence.
Addressing Technical Readiness and Security
President Tinubu touched upon the technical challenges facing the nation, particularly regarding broadband capability and the infrastructure required for real-time data transmission.
He urged Nigerians to be realistic about the country’s current and future technical capacity to support such systems.
The President highlighted that the core of the voting process remains a manual exercise where voters appear in person, cast their ballots on paper, and results are counted and sorted by hand with the electronic component serving primarily to ensure arithmetic accuracy during the transmission of the finalized Form EC8A.
The President further expressed a strong commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the vote against modern threats.
He specifically noted the need to protect the system from technical glitches and unnecessary hacking in an era characterized by high computer inquisitiveness and potential interference.
By signing this act, the administration seeks to nurture a flourishing democracy that ensures prosperity and stability, while inviting all stakeholders to have renewed confidence in the Nigerian electoral system.
