ActionAid Faults Tinubu’s Swift Signing Of Electoral Law

ActionAid Nigeria has rejected the newly signed Electoral Act 2026 and called for its immediate amendment, describing the speed of presidential assent as alarming and disappointing.

In a statement issued Thursday in Abuja and signed by its Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, the organisation criticised President Bola Tinubu for signing the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill into law less than 24 hours after its passage by the National Assembly.

ActionAid Nigeria said the rapid assent did not allow sufficient time for a comprehensive review by key statutory institutions, including the Attorney General of the Federation, the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Federal Ministry of Finance, particularly regarding the legal, operational and financial implications of implementation.

“Such haste did not permit the patience, openness, and broad consultation that legislation of this magnitude demands,” the statement said.

The organisation contrasted the speed of the Electoral Act’s passage and assent with other major reforms, noting that the Tax Reform Package underwent consolidation in early May and was passed in late June before receiving presidential assent, while the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act took several months between passage in both chambers and eventual signing into law.

According to the group, the swift handling of the electoral law creates the troubling impression that the executive and legislature operated in concert without adequate institutional scrutiny or citizen engagement.

“In matters of electoral reform, careful review by legal authorities, technical institutions, and relevant stakeholders is not optional, but essential,” it said, warning that compressing or sidelining such scrutiny deepens public suspicion and erodes trust.

ActionAid Nigeria also decried what it described as disregard for citizen voices, noting that electoral reform advocates and concerned Nigerians had raised substantive issues and proposed safeguards based on past election experiences.

It warned that if the Act proceeds in its current form, public trust in electoral processes could further decline, political tensions could intensify, and confidence in democratic institutions could weaken.

“When citizens begin to believe that electoral rules are shaped without them or against their interests, the legitimacy of future elections becomes vulnerable. No democracy can thrive under such strain,” the statement read.

The organisation called on President Tinubu and members of the National Assembly to immediately initiate amendments to the Electoral Act 2026 to ensure it reflects the aspirations of Nigerians.

Specifically, it demanded that lawmakers guarantee unconditional real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units as a non-negotiable safeguard for transparency and credibility.

“This is not a partisan matter. It is a matter of democratic survival and public trust. The credibility of future elections depends on the confidence Nigerians have in the laws that govern them,” the group stated.

It further urged Nigerians to remain engaged, vigilant and peaceful in defending democratic principles, pledging to stand with citizens advocating for electoral transparency.

The Electoral Act 2026, signed into law on February 18, introduces provisions on electronic transmission of results, digital voter identification and other reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections, but has continued to generate debate among stakeholders over the scope and conditions attached to electronic transmission.