WITH the 2027 general elections approaching, the Senate’s conditional approval of electronic transmission is shifting pressure to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), raising fresh questions about infrastructure, preparedness and the credibility of future polls.
After much prevarication, the Senate yesterday adopted an amendment mandating the electronic transmission of election results from polling units to INEC’s IReV portal, subject to the availability of telecommunication networks.
The development followed public outcry that greeted reports that the upper legislative chamber rejected real-time transmission of results during the passage of the proposed Electoral Bill 2026 last week.
However, amending its stance through a motion moved by the Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North), and seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro (PDP), the Senate replaced Section 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill.
Under the amendment, presiding officers are required to transmit results electronically after signing and stamping the result forms, which must also be countersigned by polling agents where present.
The Senate’s caveat has unwittingly placed the burden of providing a clear pathway to a credible electoral process squarely at the doorstep of the electoral umpire, whose regulations were previously dismissed by the apex court for not being binding in law.
Although the electoral commission is yet to react to the latest position of the federal lawmakers, its chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, urged Nigerians to desist from unnecessary anxiety over the rejection of electronic transmission of polling unit results in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.
Speaking while monitoring a mock accreditation exercise conducted ahead of the February 21 Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Amupitan said the controversy surrounding the Senate’s decision on electronic transmission was premature.
He explained that since the amendment process requires harmonisation between both chambers of the National Assembly before a final position can emerge, the situation should not create anxiety among citizens, stressing that INEC remains committed to deploying technology to enhance the credibility of elections.
Amupitan said the mock accreditation exercise was aimed at testing the commission’s operational readiness and the technical efficiency of the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which he described as a “game changer” for electoral integrity.
He noted: “The commission is determined to address any technical issues ahead of the actual polls. We don’t want to use the main election as a guinea pig. This exercise is basically to test operational preparedness, and our major focus is the functionality of the BVAS, which for us is a game changer.”
The INEC boss disclosed that accreditation during the simulation took about five seconds per voter, while the device successfully blocked a repeat accreditation attempt, demonstrating its effectiveness in preventing double voting.
“With this technology, there is no way you can be accredited twice. There’s no way you can vote twice,” he added.
Addressing concerns about possible network challenges in rural communities, Amupitan said the commission had strengthened its operational protocols, including provisions for presiding officers to use personal hotspots where necessary.
“The system,” he noted, “is designed to automatically upload results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal once a signal is detected.”
While expressing satisfaction with the technical outcome of the exercise, the chairman lamented the low turnout of participants during the mock accreditation and urged political parties to intensify voter mobilisation.
“It is part of the responsibility of INEC to do civic education, but it is not the responsibility of INEC to go and campaign to people. That is the responsibility of political parties,” he declared.
Senate review
In the amended clause, the Senate provides for the use of Form EC8A as the primary source for collation and declaration where the electronic transmission system fails, effectively limiting the real-time nature of result reporting. Observers note that while this arrangement addresses operational realities such as network failure, it partially undermines the objective of instant transmission.
“Electronic transmission ensures speed, accuracy and accountability in reporting election results,” Monguno said. “This is a practical approach that balances innovation with operational realities on the ground.”
Monguno explained that the amendment also seeks to resolve previous controversies over the wording of the law, particularly whether results should be “transferred” or “transmitted”. He stressed that legislative clarity is critical to preventing ambiguities that could compromise the credibility of elections.
“Fresh issues emerged from a closer scrutiny of the bill following its earlier passage,” Monguno said. “The provision required further legislative work to strengthen transparency and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process rather than weaken it.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while presiding over the plenary, emphasised that the amendment is aimed at modernising the electoral system and ensuring accountability. He clarified that although electronic transmission is now mandated, Form EC8A will remain the official source in cases where technology fails, underscoring a cautious and pragmatic approach to innovation.
Although some observers described the amendment as a positive step towards modernising the country’s electoral system, they cautioned that its success would largely depend on the reliability of network infrastructure and adequate training for electoral officers nationwide.
The Guardian reports that yesterday’s proceedings were disrupted earlier in the day following sharp disagreements over a motion seeking to rescind the same clause on electronic transmission.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) raised a point of order, arguing that the Senate could not revisit the clause in the manner proposed without allowing individual votes. He called for a division but later withdrew the motion after being recognised by the presiding officer, Akpabio.
The intervention sparked a rowdy session, with several senators speaking simultaneously and challenging the procedure being adopted. The chamber became tense for about ten minutes as the leadership struggled to restore order.
Akpabio repeatedly called for calm and urged lawmakers to respect parliamentary procedure before eventually guiding the plenary back on track.
The motion to rescind was ultimately upheld, paving the way for the amendment on electronic transmission to proceed. Analysts say the incident underscores the sensitivities surrounding electoral legislation in Nigeria and the high stakes involved in overseeing voting processes.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas
Expanded conference panel
The Senate has expanded representation on the conference committee for the Electoral Bill Amendment 2026 to 12 members, matching the number of delegates from the House of Representatives, in a move aimed at ensuring parity and smooth negotiations between both chambers ahead of the bill’s final passage.
Senator Simon Bako Lalong was named chairman of the Senate conference committee. Other members include Senators Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Aliru Adamu Muhammad, Oju Sokalu, Abamuru Asukwai Payong, Abas Aminuia, Abiru Mokae Adetukumbo and Banigo Iparibo Harry, alongside Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibril Isa Chocho.
During the plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasised the urgency of the process, urging the committee to conclude its deliberations within the next few days. Once harmonised, the amended bill is expected to be transmitted to the President for assent within February.
He said: “This is a matter of urgency. If the committee is able to conclude its work quickly, the President should be able to sign the amended Electoral Bill into law this month.”
The expanded conference committee is tasked with reconciling differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill, particularly on provisions relating to the conduct, transmission and collation of election results.
Correspondence from the Presidency indicates a strong executive interest in the expedited passage of the bill.
Implications for Nigeria’s electoral process
Experts say the adoption of electronic transmission, even with a fallback to Form EC8A, represents an important step towards modernising Nigeria’s electoral system.
“While the amendment is not fully real-time, it provides a legal framework for transparency and accountability in elections,” said a constitutional law expert in Abuja. “It also gives INEC the flexibility to ensure results are accurate, even if technology fails in some locations.”
The Senate’s actions are widely seen as a response to persistent public concern over delays and inaccuracies in the collation of election results in past polls. Analysts note that proper implementation and consistent monitoring will be critical if the amendment is to achieve its intended impact.
Mixed reactions
Following the Senate’s approval of a proposal permitting the electronic transmission of election results from polling units, key stakeholders have expressed divergent views. While some commended the decision as a step towards strengthening electoral credibility, others remain sceptical, warning that the political elite may be playing a calculated game that Nigerians could ultimately fall for.
Some analysts argue that the apparent shift in the Senate’s position is largely cosmetic, noting that the infrastructure and technology required to actualise electronic transmission are yet to be fully put in place. Others, however, caution against complacency, urging Nigerians not to lower their guard but to actively participate in the electoral process, vote and remain vigilant to ensure that their votes truly count.
While the use of technology to strengthen electoral transparency appears attractive and could boost confidence in the process, critics insist that any approval must reflect Nigeria’s infrastructural realities to avoid operational and legal failures.
For instance, data from the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN), as published by the Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro), indicate that about 300 of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas (LGAs) have no commercial bank branch, while only 474 LGAs have at least one banking outlet. This underscores the uneven spread of basic institutional infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.
The data also show that internet connectivity presents a similar challenge. According to the National Development Plan 2021–2025, only 473 LGAs had internet access as of 2023, leaving about 301 councils without reliable connectivity — a critical requirement for electronic transmission of results.
The report further revealed a stark digital divide, with 57 per cent of urban communities having internet access compared with just 23 per cent in rural areas. Overall, national internet usage stands at about 36 per cent of the population.
Although reports indicate that the Federal Government’s Project 774 LG Connectivity, designed to extend broadband and satellite internet to all LGA secretariats, is ongoing, the initiative has yet to be completed, leaving significant coverage gaps ahead of future elections.
PeacePro stressed that while not all polling units in the 301 poorly connected LGAs are offline, a law mandating instant or live transmission from every polling unit without accounting for connectivity limitations would likely lead to delays, disputes and potential manipulation.
The group argued that the core challenge lies not in adopting electronic transmission but in designing a workable legal framework. It recommended that any mandate should allow time-bound uploads within two to six hours after collation, permit offline result capture with automatic upload once connectivity is restored, and require BVAS/IReV-style uploads of scanned result sheets and figures.
PeacePro also called for fallback transmission channels, including satellite hotspots at ward or LGA collation centres and NCC-supported election-day connectivity, alongside criminal sanctions for deliberate refusal to upload results, device tampering or the disabling of transmission equipment.
Drawing on global experience, the organisation noted that mandatory live transmission from every polling unit is rare internationally. Kenya’s system has faced repeated disputes due to network failures, while countries such as the Philippines, Brazil and Estonia operate digitised result management systems without live streaming from every polling unit.
PeacePro concluded that proposals for mandatory live electronic transmission must be guided by data, warning that ignoring the reality of 301 LGAs without reliable internet access could undermine electoral credibility rather than strengthen it.
A retired INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof Lai Olurode, argued that the issue is not whether the commission has the capacity to transfer election results electronically. “The fact is that electronic transfer of election results, as some Nigerians are craving without human factors, would throw up more litigations in the end,” he said.
Olurode explained that countries which adopted total e-voting were eventually forced to abandon it, stressing that human intervention remains necessary. “If technology fails in volatile areas, the consequences could be disastrous,” he added. The don also noted that Nigerians are debating electronic transmission as though it were an entirely new issue.
“It was at the centre of debate in 2022, and when it failed to meet expectations during the 2023 general elections, it led to numerous litigations. As it stands, the human factor — especially the paper trail — remains important,” he said.
In a contrasting view, a retired military captain, David Mbamara, who also contested the governorship primaries in Imo State, said the Senate’s approval was insufficient, arguing that lawmakers cannot be fully trusted.
He said Nigerians who genuinely desire change must be prepared to actively participate in the next election cycle and respond if future polls are manipulated to favour particular interests.
Mbamara cast serious aspersions on the Godswill Akpabio-led Senate and other legislators, citing what he described as their lackadaisical attitude to critical national issues since 2023.
However, the Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, warned that although the Senate’s approval was commendable, he doubted its implementation ahead of the 2027 general elections. “Nigeria is not adopting electronic voting in its entirety,” he said.
Adeniran added that while some technology experts argue that infrastructural challenges could be addressed, there is no guarantee as to how quickly this can be achieved, given the scale of the existing deficit.
Meanwhile, legal practitioner Akeem Aponmade argued that beyond the Senate’s approval and the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the most critical requirement for real-time transmission remains reliable internet connectivity — infrastructure Nigeria currently lacks.
According to him, INEC neither possesses the nationwide technological backbone nor the funding capacity to guarantee real-time transmission across the country’s more than 176,000 polling units.
Aponmade maintained that making real-time transmission mandatory under prevailing conditions could create unintended legal consequences. “If critics are objective, they will concede that internet connectivity in Nigeria is not yet sufficiently widespread to support real-time transmission from all polling units,” he said. “Once it becomes mandatory, results may begin to be cancelled simply because they were not transmitted in real time. Election petitions would then be anchored on the interpretation of machine processes rather than the will of voters.”
Another legal practitioner, Wahab Abdullah, said the controversy surrounding electronic transmission has exposed deeper structural concerns about INEC’s operational capacity.
PDP faults Senate caveat on electronic transmission
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday criticised the Senate’s revised position on real-time electronic transmission of election results, describing it as “clever by half” and a disguised attempt to undermine electoral transparency.
In a statement issued last night by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the opposition party said the Senate’s introduction of an addendum permitting manual transmission where technology is deemed to have failed amounts to a backdoor rejection of electronic transmission, contrary to the wishes of Nigerians.
The PDP argued that manual transmission of results is already adequately provided for under the Electoral Act, stressing that the demand for electronic transmission is intended to add an extra layer of authentication to prevent the alteration of results between polling units and collation centres, a malpractice it said has long plagued Nigeria’s electoral process.
The party said it was inconceivable that the same Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) technology used successfully for voter accreditation throughout an election could suddenly become unreliable for transmitting results generated from that process.
According to the statement, the caveat inserted by the Senate reflects the apprehension of lawmakers opposed to electronic transmission. It singled out Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom the PDP said may still be influenced by his 2019 election experience, when technology was deployed to curb overvoting.
The opposition party urged members of the conference committee to adopt the version of the bill passed by the House of Representatives as the harmonised position, if they are genuinely committed to delivering credible elections in 2027. It called on lawmakers to rise above personal and political considerations and prioritise the sustenance of democracy, warning that those who oppose electronic transmission would be remembered unfavourably should Nigeria’s democracy falter.
The PDP also appealed to Nigerians to remain steadfast in their demand for real-time electronic transmission of election results, insisting that the country’s democracy is too valuable to be left solely in the hands of politicians.
ADC hails Senate U-turn on Electoral Bill as victory for citizens
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) yesterday described the 10th Senate’s reversal of controversial provisions in the Electoral Amendment Bill as a major victory for Nigerian citizens, attributing it to sustained public pressure both online and offline.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the development demonstrated the power of united civic action to overcome partisan manipulation.
“The decision of the 10th Senate to urgently reverse the contentious provisions of the Electoral Amendment Bill that it passed is a significant victory for the Nigerian people,” the statement said. “It demonstrates, in the clearest possible terms, that when citizens act with unity, clarity of purpose and resolve, they can indeed move mountains.”
The party said the outcome was more than a legislative U-turn, describing it as a testament to the resilience, vigilance and rising political consciousness of Nigerians across all walks of life.
“From street protests to digital campaigns, the Nigerian people have once again shown that sovereignty truly belongs to them,” it said.
The ADC argued that, in the face of what it described as the ruling APC’s habitual disregard for due process and democratic values, Nigerians had reaffirmed their role as the ultimate custodians of democracy.
“In this regard, the African Democratic Congress salutes the courage and tenacity of Nigerians. We commend every citizen who raised their voice, whether online or offline, to resist legislative mischief that threatened to undermine our electoral integrity,” the statement added.
However, the party urged Nigerians not to relent, stressing that the development marked only a step forward.
“We must now ensure that this momentum is sustained until the amended Bill is not only passed but duly assented to by the President, properly gazetted, and becomes an enforceable law of the Federal Republic,” it said.
The ADC also warned against “last-minute betrayals or technical ambiguities” that could weaken the law, adding that democracy does not thrive in silence or indifference but requires participation, persistence and, at times, peaceful defiance. The party reiterated that “the price of democracy is eternal vigilance.”
Senate dismisses pressure over electronic transmission debate
The Senate has said it will not be intimidated over the controversy surrounding real-time electronic transmission of election results, insisting that its actions were guided by democratic principles and due legislative process.
The Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, stated this yesterday during an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.
Recall that the red chamber recently amended Section 60 of the Electoral Act to allow presiding officers at polling units to electronically transmit election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Results Viewing Portal (IReV).
Adaramodu said lawmaking was a serious exercise and not designed to appeal to public sentiment, stressing that the Senate does not “play to the gallery”.
“We are not worried, we’re not to be intimidated, and we shouldn’t be intimidated by the minor minority that are so melodramatic about it. We have never adopted what we want,” he said.
He added that dissenting views were an inherent part of democracy, noting that grievances raised by a section of the public reflected the diversity of opinions in a democratic society.
“If a few people, especially the minority, say they have grievances against the way we handled everything, that is the beauty of democracy,” Adaramodu said.
According to him, the Senate listened to varying perspectives during its deliberations, emphasising that differing opinions and ideas are inevitable in any democracy that is functioning properly.
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