The Senate has amended the Electoral Act to allow electronic transmission of election results while retaining manual collation as a safeguard against technical challenges.
The decision followed the upper chamber’s move to reverse its earlier stance that rejected compulsory electronic transmission of results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IREV). Under the revised framework, electronic transmission will serve as the primary method of uploading election results, although the phrase “real time” was excluded from the provision.
Lawmakers agreed that in situations where internet connectivity fails, Form EC8A — duly signed and stamped by the presiding officer — would remain the fallback instrument for result collation. The amendment aims to balance technological advancement with practical measures to address network limitations during elections.
Despite the agreement, the proposal generated concerns among senators, particularly over reliance on Form EC8A in cases of disputes. The debate exposed sharp divisions on the floor, prompting Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe to initially call for an individual vote to clearly reflect each lawmaker’s position. However, he later withdrew the request, allowing the votes and proceedings to be adopted by voice vote.
Meanwhile, the Senate has constituted a 12-member conference committee to harmonise differences between its version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill and that of the House of Representatives. Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the committee during Tuesday’s emergency plenary, naming Senator Simon Bako Lalong as chairman, alongside Senators Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Adamu Aliero, Orji Uzor Kalu, Abba Moro, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Aminu Iya Abbas, Tokunbo Abiru, Niyi Adegbonmire (SAN), Jibrin Isah, Ipalibo Banigo and Onyekachi Nwebonyi as members.
Akpabio urged the committee to treat the assignment as urgent, expressing optimism that the harmonisation process would be concluded swiftly and transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent within February.
Proceedings at the emergency plenary were tense, with repeated interruptions and heated exchanges among lawmakers during deliberations. The debate intensified after Senator Tahir Monguno moved a motion seeking to rescind the Senate’s earlier approval of Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026, which deals with electronic transmission of results.
The Senate President backed a revised framework designating electronic transmission as the primary method while allowing manual submission strictly where technical challenges arise.
Tuesday’s session followed growing public outrage over recent amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly the removal of mandatory real-time electronic transmission. Civil society organisations, opposition parties and political figures including Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi had called for stronger safeguards to enhance transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process, staging protests such as the Occupy National Assembly demonstration in Abuja.
