According to a public opinion poll of Nigerians, the controversial process behind the approval of the new Electoral Act 2026 could further undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s upcoming elections.

Nigerians from all social classes, randomly sampled, expressed mixed reactions and varying degrees of optimism and scepticism about the implications of the development on the country’s democracy and the role it will play in the 2027 general elections.

The President had hurriedly signed the bill into law on Wednesday, barely twenty-four hours after its controversial passage by the National Assembly, thereby fuelling suggestions that the ruling APC government, which dominates the two chambers of the Assembly, may have some sinister motives for jettisoning the real-time electronic transmission of election results.

The President signed the controversial law after much debate, agreeing with the National Assembly on certain clauses that had previously overlooked public concerns. Public attention is focused on a proposed amendment requiring real-time electronic transmission of election results.

A coalition of civil society organisations had stated that the lawmakers’ failure to heed Nigerians further jeopardises the country’s fragile trust in the electoral system, as the passed law may not have decisively strengthened transparency, eliminated ambiguities, and deepened trust in the electoral process.

The NDR conducted interviews on the busy streets to gather Nigerians’ perspectives regarding the recently amended Electoral Act.

Policy researcher Adeyemi Adejumo criticised the National Assembly for ignoring public concerns and not passing real-time electoral result transmission. “I think the National Assembly’s decision to ignore the public demand for the real-time transmission of the result has marred the expectations of an average Nigerian. We expected the upcoming election to be straightforward, without repeating the issues from previous elections. However, a loophole in the newly signed law could lead to problems in future years.  The failure of the National Assembly and President Tinubu to listen to the voice of the people is setting a bad precedent that the government can always go ahead to do whatever it wishes without putting the public into consideration. We have to be concerned about this.”

Mohmoh Aisha, a banker, said the development does not change her perspective about governance in the country. “For me, it does not matter whether they changed the electoral law in the country; we all know where it ends. It does not stop them from rigging the election eventually. Also, adding the real-time electronic transmission to the law will not affect anything, especially as we know that their government will always look like this to the common people”.

Omolade Abdurasheed, a videographer, supported the actions of the National Assembly not to include the mandatory electronic real-time transmission of result into the newly amended law. “Well, I can’t be specific with what the president assented to, but with the Senate proceedings I followed, the bill that was adopted was in the absence of electronic transmission and transponder; the collation should be done manually. Which is quite reasonable; not everywhere in the country has a network, not to mention the whole of Nigeria. Are we saying after voting, those not opportune to be in an area with a network should be disenfranchised? So that’s the most logical thing to do, and I support the position of both the Senate and the House of Representatives on the matter.

Boluwatife, a student activist, raised her concern about the absence of mandatory electronic transmission in the law. She said the law might not favour the wishes of the youth who do not trust the country’s electoral system. “I think the government, both the President and the National Assembly, have betrayed our expectations as youth. I know that many people protested at the National Assembly, but it was surprising to hear later that the law, which had been signed by the president, does not consider their demands. It shows that no matter how much we shout in the country, those in power will always have their way.”

Mohammed Yusuf, a POS Operator, said he would not waste his time voting on election day because he knows his vote would not count. “I’m not going to vote on election day, since I believe the results won’t represent the people’s wishes and might be changed at the collation centers.”

Olaosebikan Ayodele, an entrepreneur, took a neutral position on the electoral law. “We all know that there is too much complication about that law. I feel like it is a premeditated work between the President and the lawmakers, and no amount of protest can make them go against their plans. However, I am not sure if the actions are right, nor is it certain that they will change how Nigerian elections are conducted. Left to me, I would just implore all Nigerians to demand a free and fair election, which will satisfy all and sundry. If you force them to make the transmission of election results mandatory, are they not the ones there? So let us hope they just do everything well.”

Festus Ogun, a legal practitioner, expressed his frustration on the matter, stating that the President’s decision to go with the lawmakers in signing the Electoral Act despite the public protest has angered Nigerians, which suggests impunity. “Tinubu and his errand boys at the National Assembly disregarded our countrymen, took us for granted and passed the amended Electoral Act. They have dared us to do our worst.”

Folayan Evelyn, a student, maintained that the Nigerian government has never put the people into consideration, and it is not expected to start now. “When has the government put people’s opinions into consideration before? It does not happen. We should not be surprised that history is repeating itself. It is just an old script that is being replayed. I don’t have much trust that anything will change.

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