Photo: Senate President, Godswill Akpabio
By Deborah Nnamdi
The Senate has amended the Electoral Act to allow for the electronic transmission of election results, with safeguards in place to address potential technical challenges. This decision follows a move on Tuesday to rescind the upper chamber’s earlier stance, which had rejected the compulsory electronic transmission of results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IREV).
Electronic Transmission as Primary Method
The amendment permits electronic transmission as part of the electoral process but removes the phrase “real-time.” The Senate stipulated that in cases of internet connectivity failure, the Form EC8A will remain the primary instrument for result collation.
Under the proposal, electronic transmission would serve as the primary method of uploading results. However, if technical issues such as network failures arise, a fallback option would allow for manual transmission using Form EC8A, which must be signed and stamped by the presiding officer.
Debate and Divisions in the Senate
The new amendment triggered sharp divisions among lawmakers, particularly regarding the reliance on Form EC8A as the primary source of election results in case of disputes. Senator Tahir Mungono introduced a motion on the matter, leading to heated exchanges in the chamber. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe called for an individual vote to clearly determine the position of each lawmaker, but later withdrew the motion.
Despite these tensions, the amendment passed with the votes and proceedings being approved by the Senate.
12-Member Committee to Harmonize Differences
To address discrepancies between the Senate and the House of Representatives on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, a 12-member conference committee was established. Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced during an emergency plenary session on Tuesday, urging the committee to treat the task with urgency.
The committee members include:
- Senator Simon Bako Lalong – Chairman
- Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno – Member
- Senator Adamu Aliero – Member
- Senator Orji Uzor Kalu – Member
- Senator Abba Moro – Member
- Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong – Member
- Senator Aminu Iya Abbas – Member
- Senator Tokunbo Abiru – Member
- Senator Niyi Adegbonmire (SAN) – Member
- Senator Jibrin Isah – Member
- Senator Ipalibo Banigo – Member
- Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi – Member
Senate President Akpabio expressed confidence that the committee would conclude its work promptly, allowing the revised bill to be forwarded to President Bola Tinubu for assent by February. He expressed optimism that President Tinubu would sign the bill into law within the next week.
Rowdy Session and Controversial Clause
The proceedings of Tuesday’s session became tense, with repeated interruptions and heated exchanges among lawmakers. The tension peaked during discussions on Senator Mungono’s motion, which proposed the reversal of Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026—a provision related to the process for transmitting election results electronically.
Senate President Akpabio lent his support to a revised framework that designates electronic transmission as the primary mode of uploading results, while allowing for manual submission only in cases of technical failure.
Public Outrage and Protests
The Senate’s amendment came in the wake of widespread public outrage over changes to the Electoral Act, particularly concerning the provision for electronic transmission of results. The removal of the “real-time” electronic transmission requirement under Clause 60(3) has sparked nationwide protests, including the Occupy National Assembly demonstration in Abuja. Civil society groups, opposition parties, and notable political figures, including Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi, have continued to call for mandatory real-time electronic transmission, stressing its importance for election transparency and credibility.
The decision has placed the Senate at the center of a national debate on election reforms, with many demanding greater assurance that the transmission of results will be both reliable and secure.
