The Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Comrade Dr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for what he described as the “rushed and troubling” assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026.
President Tinubu signed the bill into law barely 24 hours after its passage by the National Assembly, a move Dr. Zikirullahi said raises “serious concerns about transparency, democratic consultation, and respect for the will of the Nigerian people.”
“The lightning speed with which this controversial bill was enacted, despite heated objections in both chambers, is deeply troubling,” Dr. Zikirullahi said. “Democracy thrives on legitimacy and public trust, not executive haste.”
At the centre of the controversy is Clause 60(3), which permits manual transmission of election results in cases of “network challenges” or “unforeseen circumstances.” Civil society groups and opposition lawmakers had pushed for mandatory real-time electronic transmission as a safeguard against electoral manipulation.
Dr. Zikirullahi described the clause as “a clear setback for electoral transparency,” arguing that it undermines public confidence in Nigeria’s elections.
“For months, Nigerians have demanded mandatory electronic transmission to reduce tampering and political interference,” he said. “Discarding this people-oriented reform without genuine engagement weakens democratic safeguards.”
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Responding to President Tinubu’s position that election credibility depends more on human management than real-time electronic transmission, Dr. Zikirullahi insisted that public consensus favours technology-backed transparency.
“The Nigerian people have overwhelmingly rejected manual transmission. Ignoring that consensus undermines democratic participation,” he stated.
Citing industry stakeholders, the CHRICED Executive Director noted that the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has affirmed the country’s capacity for real-time electronic transmission. He added that the Nigerian Society of Engineers corroborated that position.
He further recalled that the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) successfully deployed Parallel Vote Tabulation during the 2015 presidential election with minimal resources.
“If telecom operators and professional bodies say the infrastructure exists, why retain a manual fallback that opens the door to manipulation?” Dr. Zikirullahi said.
He also questioned the rationale behind citing technical glitches after significant public spending on electoral technology.
“If over ₦300 billion has already been invested in electoral technology, and about ₦873.78 billion is being proposed for the 2027 elections, how can ‘internet glitches’ justify reverting to manual transmission?” he asked.
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“Are Nigerians being told that despite BVAS and digital infrastructure, credible elections must still depend on vulnerable manual processes? This contradiction is unacceptable.”
Dr. Zikirullahi described the speed of presidential assent as consistent with what he called a pattern of approving controversial legislation despite public outcry.
He also criticised the 10th National Assembly under Senate President Godswill Akpabio, alleging it is widely perceived as a rubber-stamp legislature.
“What is alarming is the urgency given to this amendment while critical reforms, including comprehensive electoral offences legislation and constitutional amendments on devolution of powers, remain pending,” he said.
The CHRICED Executive Director tasked lawmakers to urgently review Clause 60(3) to make electronic transmission mandatory and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clarify its technological capacity and justify its investments.
He further encouraged civil society groups, professional bodies, youth organisations, and the media to intensify advocacy for transparent electoral reforms.
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Dr. Zikirullahi also stressed the need to amend constitutional provisions granting the President exclusive authority to appoint INEC commissioners.
“Until that is addressed, Nigeria risks having an electoral commission more accountable to the executive than to the people,” he said.
Dr. Zikirullahi maintained that electoral laws must inspire confidence rather than suspicion.
“Democracy thrives not on speed, but on legitimacy. Not on executive haste, but on public trust. Not on manual loopholes, but on transparent systems,” he said. “The will of Nigerians must prevail.”
