Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, speaking through his media office on Sunday, described the new law as a collective effort rather than a parliamentary imposition, pushing back against criticism from civil society organisations who questioned the speed of its enactment and presidential assent.
Among the most consequential changes is a mandate requiring the Independent National Electoral Commission to transmit election results electronically and to deploy the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System for voter verification at polling units — provisions that had been flashpoints of controversy in previous electoral cycles. Both requirements are now compulsory, not discretionary.
A dedicated funding structure for INEC is established under Section 3 of the new Act, providing the commission with a ring-fenced budget intended to guarantee financial autonomy and reduce its dependence on executive goodwill for operational resources. Bamidele argued this provision alone would give INEC greater independence and faster corrective capacity in managing elections.
