Senate Drops Proposal for Real-Time Transmission of Election Results
Fresh details have emerged on how the Senate rejected a proposal that would have made real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The provision was part of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to amend key sections of Nigeria’s electoral law and enhance the credibility of elections.
How the Proposal Emerged
The contentious amendment centered on Clause 60(3) of the bill. It aimed to require presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload polling unit results directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) immediately after voting.
The proposal was recommended by the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, chaired by Senator Simon Lalong of Plateau South, following months of consultations with INEC, civil society organizations, and other election stakeholders.
Senate Initially Supported Real-Time Transmission
Parliamentary sources revealed that in the early stages of deliberations, senators were working with a draft that explicitly retained the provision for real-time electronic transmission of election results.
Senate Rewrites Real-Time Transmission Clause Amid Controversy
The matter had reportedly enjoyed strong support, including approval during a closed session of the Senate. An ad-hoc committee led by Senator Niyi Adegbonmire of Ondo Central had also endorsed the proposal after more than a year of engagement. Public hearings across the country appeared to produce a consensus that the law should explicitly mandate the real-time upload of results to prevent disputes like those witnessed during the 2023 general elections.
Last-Minute Change During Plenary
However, the situation shifted during the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill. As plenary extended late into the evening, the final version passed by the Senate was quietly altered.
According to insiders, three senior senators from the southern region approached Senate President Godswill Akpabio, urging him to retain the wording of the 2022 Electoral Act. Akpabio reportedly agreed, leading to the removal of “real-time electronic transmission” and its replacement with the term “transfer,” without reopening debate on the floor.
What the Senate Eventually Adopted
The rejected amendment would have required polling unit results to be uploaded to IReV immediately after Form EC8A was signed and stamped. Instead, the adopted clause now states that presiding officers shall “transfer” results in a manner prescribed by INEC, identical to the 2022 Electoral Act. This effectively leaves the timing and method of electronic result handling at the discretion of the electoral body.
Senate Convenes Emergency Sitting
Following public backlash and intense criticism, the Senate has scheduled an emergency plenary sitting for Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at noon. The decision was communicated in an official notice dated February 8 and signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, on the directive of Senate President Akpabio.
Although the notice did not explain the reason, the timing strongly points to the controversy surrounding Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act amendment. Parliamentary sources explained that the emergency session is needed to formally validate Senate votes and proceedings on the bill. This step will clarify whether “transfer” or “electronic transmission” was officially adopted and enable the conference committee to harmonize the bill with the House of Representatives version. Without this approval, the committee cannot effectively begin its work.
Members of the Conference Committee
The harmonisation committee is chaired by Senator Simon Lalong. Other members include Senators Niyi Adegbonmire, Tahir Monguno, Adamu Aliero, Orji Uzor Kalu, Abba Moro, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Aminu Iya Abbas, and Tokunbo Abiru.
Other Major Changes to the Bill
Beyond electronic transmission, the Senate made significant changes to other sections of the bill. It removed stricter penalties for vote trading, which had proposed fines of up to ₦5 million and a ten-year election ban. INEC’s election notice period was cut from 360 days to 180 days, while the deadline for parties to submit candidates’ lists was reduced from 180 days to 90 days.
Voting Technology and Court Provisions Revised
Lawmakers retained the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) but rejected electronically generated voter identification, keeping the Permanent Voter Card as the only valid polling unit ID. In addition, Clause 142, which sought to simplify proof of non-compliance in election petitions using documents alone, was removed over concerns it could overwhelm the courts.
