Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2026: Addressing Critical Gaps for Fair and Credible Polls. Lagos, Nigeria — 19 April 2026 The recent passage of the Electoral Act 2026 in Nigeria has been heralded as a major step towards modernizing the country’s electoral process.
The act, signed by President Bola Tinubu, mandates the use of the Biometric Verification of Voters’Acquisition System (BVAS), electronic results transmission, and direct primaries, all aimed at enhancing the integrity of the electoral process.
However, Professor Emmanuel Remi Aiyede of the University of Ibadan has raised concerns about critical gaps within the law that could undermine the integrity of the upcoming polls. Despite the advancements, Aiyede emphasizes the need for additional reforms to ensure free, fair, and credible elections. Strengthening INEC’s Independence.
One of the key concerns highlighted by Aiyede is the need to strengthen the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The current law establishes a dedicated fund for INEC, but Aiyede argues that the commission’s administrative success hinges on its political independence. He suggests that the leadership appointments should be more transparent and insulated from presidential discretion, with the possibility of appointments being made by the National Judicial Council or a multi-stakeholder appointment committee. Enhancing Candidate Selection and Transparency.
Another area of concern is the candidate selection process.
The act seeks to address the issue of money and the influence of a small group of delegates by abolishing indirect primaries, allowing all registered members of a political party to vote. Aiyede emphasizes the importance of ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the new digital registers, which will be crucial for the success of this reform. Transparency in the electoral process is also a priority.
While the act mandates the use of technology to verify voters and transmit results electronically, Aiyede cautions that these measures alone are not sufficient. He advocates for a strictly technology-driven mandate for all results to prevent manipulation and ensure that certificate forgery is not used as a basis for questioning an election. Addressing Voter Apathy and Vote-Buying.
Voter apathy and vote — buying are two more challenges that need to be addressed. Aiyede suggests that severe punishment for vote-buying is essential to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
Additionally, he proposes measures to address voter apathy, which could include voter education campaigns and initiatives to increase political engagement among citizens. Conclusion.
The Electoral Act 2026 represents a significant step forward for Nigeria’s electoral process.
However, it is clear that additional reforms are needed to address critical gaps and ensure free, fair, and credible polls.
The implementation of these reforms will be crucial for maintaining public trust and confidence in the democratic process as Nigeria approaches its next general elections.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 3*
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By This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Emmanuel Remi Aiyede
