Tinubu says Nigeria’s elections remain largely manual after signing new Electoral Act

President Bola Tinubu has said Nigeria’s electoral process remains largely manual, raising concerns about the country’s technological readiness for full electronic transmission of election results.

Speaking after signing the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 into law at the State House in Abuja, the president said debates around electronic transmission must reflect Nigeria’s current broadband and technical realities. He noted that while technology is increasingly discussed, the core stages of voting, counting, and documentation are still conducted manually.

According to Tinubu, voters physically appear at polling units, receive ballot papers, thumbprint their choices, and cast votes manually, while officials also sort and count ballots manually before entering results into official forms. He explained that electronic transmission only applies to sending already manually collated results, stressing the need to avoid glitches, interference, or hacking risks.

Broadband limitations raise concerns over real-time result transmission

Tinubu questioned whether Nigeria’s broadband infrastructure is sufficiently developed to support seamless real-time electronic transmission nationwide. He urged Nigerians to consider the country’s current and future technological capacity before fully relying on digital systems for elections.

He emphasised that final election outcomes are still formally announced by human officials, reinforcing the continued reliance on manual processes despite growing digital integration. The president added that strengthening technological infrastructure remains essential for improving electoral efficiency and credibility.

Lawmakers divided as manual transmission remains fallback option

The president signed the bill into law after its passage by the National Assembly, following months of intense debate over the role of electronic transmission in future elections, particularly ahead of the 2027 general polls.

A key point of contention was Clause 60, which allows a manually completed Form EC8A to serve as the primary basis for result collation if electronic transmission fails. The provision sparked heated debate in the Senate, with opposition lawmakers pushing for stronger guarantees for electronic transmission.

Despite objections, 55 senators voted to retain manual transmission as a fallback option, while 15 opposed it.

Tinubu expressed optimism about Nigeria’s democratic future, stating that the country will continue strengthening its electoral system while balancing technological advancement with practical realities.

Also read: Senate passes Electoral Act amendment bill after clash over e-transmission