The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly for signing the Electoral Amendment Act 2026 into law, describing the process as rushed and undemocratic.
In a statement on Friday, and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, the group condemned what it called the hasty assent to the bill, which was signed into law less than 24 hours after it was passed by the National Assembly.
According to CHRICED, the speed of the presidential assent, despite objections raised during debates in both chambers, raises concerns about transparency, public consultation, and respect for the will of Nigerians.
For months, the group said, millions of Nigerians, civil society organisations and opposition lawmakers had demanded that electronic transmission of election results be made mandatory to prevent manipulation and political interference.
However, the amended law includes a provision under Clause 60(3) that allows manual transmission of results in cases of network challenges or unforeseen circumstances.
CHRICED described this clause as a major setback.
“To CHRICED, this provision represents a clear setback for electoral transparency and undermines public confidence in the integrity of Nigeria’s elections,” the statement said.
The organisation argued that mandatory electronic transmission would reduce result tampering, limit interference and cut down post-election disputes.
It accused the National Assembly, dominated by the ruling APC, of discarding what it called a “people-oriented reform” and securing presidential approval without genuine public engagement.
While signing the bill, President Tinubu reportedly said election credibility depends more on human management than on real-time electronic transmission.
But CHRICED insisted that Nigerians have overwhelmingly rejected manual transmission.
“Ignoring this consensus undermines democratic participation and weakens institutional safeguards designed to prevent manipulation,” the group said.
The organisation also rejected claims that Nigeria lacks the network capacity for real-time electronic transmission.
It noted that the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has publicly stated that the country has the infrastructure to support real-time transmission.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers has also backed that position.
CHRICED further pointed out that the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) successfully deployed Parallel Vote Tabulation during the 2015 presidential election, producing real-time results with a budget that was less than 0.05 percent of INEC’s allocation.
Major telecom operators, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and 9mobile, have also dismissed claims of poor network coverage as outdated and misleading, the group added.
According to CHRICED, the continued reliance on network challenges as justification for manual transmission raises serious questions, especially considering the huge public funds spent on electoral technology.
“If over ₦300 billion has already been spent on electoral technology, and an estimated ₦873.78 billion is proposed for the 2027 general elections, how can ‘internet glitches’ still justify reverting to manual transmission?” the statement queried.
“Are Nigerians being told that despite massive investments in BVAS and digital infrastructure, credible elections must still rely on a manual process vulnerable to manipulation? This contradiction is unacceptable.”
The group said the quick presidential approval of the bill is not surprising, citing previous instances where controversial legislation was swiftly signed into law despite public outcry.
It also criticised the 10th National Assembly, which it described as being widely perceived as a rubber-stamp legislature.
CHRICED expressed concern that while the Electoral Act amendment was treated with urgency, other critical bills including electoral offences legislation, constitutional amendments on devolution of powers, and key economic and anti-corruption reforms remain pending.
“Electoral laws must inspire confidence, not suspicion,” the statement read.
“The hurried assent to this amendment sends the wrong signal ahead of future elections.”
The organisation urged citizens to hold lawmakers accountable, particularly the 55 senators who voted against mandatory electronic transmission.
It encouraged Nigerians to use lawful and democratic means, including recall processes, to ensure that those who block electoral progress do not return to office in 2027.
CHRICED also called for constitutional reforms to remove the President’s exclusive power to appoint all commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), arguing that this arrangement weakens the commission’s independence.
In its call to action, the group urged the National Assembly to urgently review Clause 60(3) and make electronic transmission mandatory.
It asked INEC to publicly clarify its technological capacity and justify its spending on digital infrastructure.
It also called on civil society groups, professional bodies, youth organisations and the media to intensify advocacy for transparent electoral reforms.
“The President swore an oath to act in the interest of Nigerians. That oath requires him to uphold the will of the people. Any deviation erodes trust and deepens perceptions of institutional compromise,” the statement said.
CHRICED maintained that democracy must be built on legitimacy and public trust.
“Democracy thrives not on speed, but on legitimacy. Not on executive haste, but on public trust. Not on manual loopholes, but on transparent systems. The will of Nigerians must prevail.”
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
