Akpabio, Wike Hail Tinubu’s Swift Assent: New Electoral Act ‘Silences Noise Makers,’ Guarantees Credible Polls

Nigeria’s electoral landscape has shifted permanently. On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026 into law less than 24 hours after receiving it. Senate President Godswill Akpabio and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike have hailed the move as the ultimate “death blow” to electoral malpractice.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Signing a document

The Three Pillars of the 2026 Act

Akpabio confirmed that the National Assembly ignored “politically motivated noise” to deliver a law that prioritizes the following:

1. IReV is Now Law: For the first time in Nigeria’s history, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the IReV portal are formally recognized as legal, verifiable records. Results transmitted electronically are now the primary source of truth, making it nearly impossible to alter figures during manual collation.

2. Power to the People (Direct Primaries): The new law effectively ends “delegate business.” Political party members will now vote directly for candidates during primaries, stripping power from a handful of influential delegates.

3. No More “Default” Winners: If a leading candidate is disqualified by a court, a fresh election must be held. This prevents candidates with a lower vote count from being declared winners by judicial fiat.

SEN Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON President Of the 10th Senate

Akpabio explained that results transmitted electronically, even from areas with poor network coverage, will eventually reflect on IReV once connectivity is restored—allowing Nigerians to detect any tampering as results move from polling units to collation centres .

Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory

Wike: “No More Excuses for Losers”

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike praised the President’s speed, noting that the 24-hour turnaround demonstrates unprecedented political will. Wike took a swipe at the opposition, stating the new law has effectively silenced critics who were already “preparing excuses” for future electoral defeats.

“Democracy is a work-in-progress… by strengthening the Electoral Act, we ensure every vote truly counts.” — Nyesom Wike

Written by Boom RadioNG