By | YOUNG, D
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has defended the newly enacted Electoral Act, saying the law reflects broad public interest rather than the views of a vocal minority within the political space.
Akpabio spoke at the State House in Abuja shortly after President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Act into law. He said the National Assembly approached the legislation with care, patriotism, and a strong awareness of Nigeria’s political and social realities.
According to him, lawmakers focused on delivering a legal framework that responds to the expectations of most Nigerians while shielding the process from external pressure. He said the objective was to produce a workable and credible electoral law, not to satisfy partisan interests or public agitation.
The Senate President stated that the legislature was confident it had captured the true intentions of citizens who seek transparent and credible elections. He added that public debate should not be mistaken for the technical responsibility of lawmaking, which requires balance and restraint.
Akpabio said the new Act would strengthen the integrity of elections by ensuring fairness and openness at every stage of the process. He expressed confidence that votes cast by Nigerians would now carry greater weight and credibility.
He pointed to the statutory recognition of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System result viewing portal, known as IReV, as one of the most significant reforms. He said results transmitted electronically would remain verifiable even in locations with limited network access, as they would appear on the portal once connectivity is restored.
This, he explained, would allow citizens and stakeholders to track results from polling units to collation centres and identify any form of manipulation.
Akpabio described the provision as a major step forward, noting that it marks the first time electronic transmission of election results has been clearly established in Nigerian law since independence.
He also highlighted changes to the conduct of party primaries, saying party members would now have greater influence through direct voting rather than decisions being restricted to a small group of delegates.
Another provision, he said, addresses court disqualification of candidates by requiring a fresh election, rather than allowing a runner up with significantly fewer votes to assume office.
The Senate passed the Electoral Act, 2022 Repeal and Re Enactment Bill 2026 on Tuesday, completing the legislative process that led to its signing into law.
