Coalition Backs Senate Over Electoral Act Amendment 2026, Calls It ‘Game Changer

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A coalition of more than 80 civil society organisations and public interest groups has commended the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for passing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, describing the move as a decisive step toward safeguarding the country’s democracy.

The groups, operating under the umbrella of the Coalition for Good Governance (CCG), rose from an emergency meeting held on Monday, February 16, 2026, in Lagos, where they reviewed the state of the nation and deliberated on recent developments in the electoral reform process.

In a press statement signed by the coalition’s leaders, the group passed a vote of confidence on the Senate for what it described as its “irrevocable commitment to upholding and sustaining Nigeria’s democracy” through the passage of the amendment on February 10, 2026.

The coalition expressed appreciation to the upper legislative chamber for what it termed its refusal to be pressured into adopting provisions that, in its view, could have destabilised the country’s electoral system.

“We are extremely grateful and wholeheartedly commend the Senate for hearkening to the yearnings of Nigerians by refusing to be stampeded on the Electoral Act Amendment 2026 that would have imperilled our democracy and thrown the country into avoidable chaos,” the statement read.

The group criticised calls by some interests for the inclusion of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results, alleging that such demands were not in the national interest. According to the coalition, Nigeria’s uneven internet and power infrastructure, as well as broader technological challenges, could make exclusive reliance on real-time electronic transmission problematic.

The CCG also faulted claims that the Senate had removed provisions for electronic transmission of results from the amendment bill. It maintained that the upper chamber retained relevant provisions, citing Section 60(3) and (5) of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.

Under the revised provision, the Presiding Officer is required to electronically transmit results from each polling unit to the INEC Result Viewing Portal after Form EC8A has been duly signed and stamped by the officer and countersigned by candidates or polling agents where available. However, where electronic transmission fails due to communication challenges, the signed and stamped Form EC8A will serve as the primary source for collation and declaration of results.

The coalition said the requirement for party agents to countersign result sheets before electronic transmission strengthens the credibility and integrity of the process, noting that party agents serve as witnesses to proceedings at polling units.

Describing the amendment as a “masterstroke,” the group argued that the fallback to manual documentation in cases of network failure reflects Nigeria’s socio-economic and technological realities.

As the Senate and the House of Representatives prepare to harmonise the amendment bill for presidential assent, the coalition urged lawmakers in both chambers to remain firm and resist what it described as pressure and blackmail from vested interests.

It called on the National Assembly to uphold the Senate’s position in the final version of the bill, stressing that the amendment is critical to sustaining Nigeria’s democracy and ensuring peace, progress and prosperity in the country.