Electoral Act 2026: A rejoinder to Bamidele and an appeal to Amupitan’s INEC

By Olarinre Salako

Published in The Nigerian Tribune: Monday Backpage Column— Systems and Society. February 23, 2026.

President Tinubu has assented to the amended Electoral Act 2026 despite widespread public demand at National Assembly hearings for mandatory real-time electronic transmission. The House of Representatives— which had earlier aligned with that public sentiment— subsequently rescinded its position and aligned with the Senate’s discretionary proviso. Its Electoral Amendment Committee Chairman, Hon Adebayo Balogun (APC, Lagos), had earlier publicly signalled that shift.

However, civic duty—and institutional posterity—make it imperative to respond to the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, whose pre-assent defence of the Senate’s discretionary position on Clause 60(3) (Tribune, February 18, 2026) must not be allowed unchallenged. He cited broadband gaps and power instability as reasons the Senate rejected mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results.

More importantly, Nigerians must now look to INEC—under Professor Joash Amupitan—to implement the Act with transparent, verifiable standards. Its institutional duty must transcend a discretionary proviso.

1. Infrastructure First—Or Institution First?

The Senator’s argument is clear: Nigeria’s infrastructure is uneven. Broadband penetration is incomplete. Electricity supply is unstable, and other operational risks exist. Legislating mandatory real-time transmission without resolving these weaknesses may create failure.

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