The Senate on Tuesday bowed to intense public pressure and approved the electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal, IReV.
However, lawmakers also permitted manual collation to serve as a backup where technology fails.
The decision followed an emergency reconsideration of a controversial clause in the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026. The earlier version of the provision had sparked nationwide outrage, street protests and sustained criticism from opposition figures, civil society organisations and youth movements.
Under the reviewed provision, presiding officers at polling units are required to electronically transmit results to the IReV portal after voting and documentation have been completed.
The amendment states that the transmission must take place after Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the presiding officer and countersigned by candidates or polling agents, where available.
Despite approving electronic transmission, the Senate stopped short of making it compulsory in all circumstances. It also rejected calls for the explicit inclusion of real-time upload of results — a key demand by protesters who accused lawmakers of attempting to weaken electoral safeguards ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The law now provides that where electronic transmission cannot be carried out due to communication or network challenges, the manual result sheet, Form EC8A, will become the primary basis for collation and declaration.
While putting the motion to a voice vote, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged senators who opposed the amendment to formally challenge it on the floor.
“It’s very simple. If you disagree with him, move your counter motion. So, if you agree with him, you agree with me when I put the votes,” Akpabio said.
He explained that the motion sought to reverse an earlier Senate decision on Section 60, Subsection 3 of the Electoral Act, which had triggered public backlash.
“When I ask for the votes, when I ask for your consent, let me read the motion. His earlier motion, which passed in our last sitting, he has sought to rescind that. That is in respect of Section 60, Subsection 3,” Akpabio stated.
Reading the amended clause, he reiterated that presiding officers must electronically transmit results to the IReV portal after completing documentation at the polling unit.
Akpabio also clarified that the law accommodates situations where electronic transmission becomes impossible due to network or communication failure. In such cases, the manually signed Form EC8A will serve as the primary source for collation and declaration of results.
Despite the Senate’s clarification, the amendment continues to generate debate. Opposition parties and civil society groups argue that allowing manual results to override electronically transmitted ones could weaken transparency.
Critics warn that the provision may reopen avenues for manipulation, especially in areas with poor network coverage.
The development comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with stakeholders closely watching further amendments to Nigeria’s electoral framework.
