ABUJA — The Nigerian Senate has reopened discussion on a key provision of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, focusing on whether real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results should be mandatory for elections. The move comes after intense public backlash and calls for greater transparency following an earlier vote that left the decision to the discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The emergency plenary, called on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, followed a motion by Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno to rescind the previous decision. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) initially proposed that senators vote individually on the matter, prompting a fresh round of deliberations. Lawmakers are now debating whether electronic transmission of results from polling units to INEC’s IReV portal should be the primary method, with signed manual forms as a fallback option in case of network failure.
Under the Senate’s revised procedure, presiding officers at polling units must electronically transmit results to the IReV portal once forms are signed and countersigned by polling agents. If technical issues prevent electronic transmission, Form EC8, also signed and stamped by the presiding officer and polling agents, will serve as the primary evidence. The Senate’s decision differs slightly from the House of Representatives’ version, which still mandates real-time transmission, and the two chambers will now reconcile differences in a Conference Committee.
The emergency plenary also saw the Senate expand the membership of the Conference Committee to 12 members from the previous nine to match the House of Representatives, bringing the total to 24 lawmakers. Senate President Akpabio urged members to conclude their work quickly so that the bill could be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent within February.
The debate reflects deep divisions within the Senate over the technical and legal feasibility of real-time electronic vote transmission. Concerns were raised that network failures in some rural areas could lead to legal disputes if real-time transmission were mandated. Senator Victor Umeh of Anambra Central explained that while electronic transmission itself was supported by over 85% of senators, the term “real-time” was removed to avoid potential complications in regions with poor connectivity.
Public response to the Senate’s earlier vote was immediate. Civil society groups and opposition political parties staged the “Occupy National Assembly” protest, marching from the Federal Secretariat to the National Assembly gates in Abuja. Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, now a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), joined the protest, emphasizing the need for mandatory electronic transmission to prevent a repeat of technical failures witnessed during the 2023 elections.
Despite the controversy, Senate President Akpabio clarified that the chamber had not rejected electronic transmission outright. Instead, the amendment provides flexibility for INEC to determine the most appropriate method of transmitting results, taking into account technological limitations and security considerations. Former Senate President David Mark echoed this sentiment, stating that the National Assembly should allow INEC to make operational decisions regarding the process.
The House of Representatives’ insistence on real-time transmission now sets the stage for a Conference Committee meeting, which will reconcile the Senate and House versions of the bill. The outcome of this legislative process is being closely monitored, as it will directly affect the integrity and credibility of the 2027 general elections.
Analysts say that the ongoing debate highlights Nigeria’s challenges in balancing technology, logistics, and transparency in elections, emphasizing that public confidence in the electoral process depends on clear and enforceable rules.
