Abuja — Fresh details have emerged on how the Senate rejected a proposal seeking to make real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The proposal was part of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026 (SB. 903) and focused on amending Clause 60(3), which would have compelled presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time.
The amendment, which also formed part of broader reforms covering election timelines, penalties for electoral offences and voting technology, was rejected by the 10th Senate under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
At the centre of the controversy is Section 60(3) of the bill, dealing with the transmission of polling unit results. The provision was recommended by the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, chaired by Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South).
Parliamentary sources disclosed that during the clause-by-clause consideration of the committee’s report, the Senate initially worked with a version that retained real-time electronic transmission of results.
However, after hours of deliberations, as plenary extended late into the evening, the final version passed by the Senate was altered at the last minute to remove the provision.
Sources further revealed that this decision came despite the Senate having earlier approved electronic transmission overwhelmingly during a closed session.
An ad-hoc committee chaired by Senator Niyi Adegbonmire (APC, Ondo Central) had also endorsed real-time transmission after more than one year of consultations.
The committee engaged INEC, civil society organisations and other stakeholders through joint sessions and zonal public hearings, where consensus was reportedly reached that electronic transmission should be clearly legalised to prevent the legal disputes that followed the 2023 general elections.
According to the committee’s report, Clause 60(3) originally provided that:
“The Presiding Officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IReV portal in real time, and such transmission shall be done after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and/or countersigned by candidates or polling unit agents available at the polling unit.”
Sources said several senators approached the Senate President, urging him to retain the provision as contained in the 2022 Electoral Act.
However, Akpabio reportedly insisted on maintaining the existing framework, which allows electronic upload only after votes are counted and publicly announced at polling units.
As a result, the word “transmission” was replaced with “transfer”, aligning with the 2022 Act, even though no fresh debate was conducted on the Senate floor.
The adopted provision now states:
“The Presiding Officer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot, in a manner as prescribed by the commission.”
Senate to Reconvene Emergency Sitting Over Electoral Act Controversy
Following widespread criticism over its handling of Clause 60(3), the Senate has scheduled an emergency plenary sitting for Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 12:00 noon, reversing its earlier decision to adjourn till February 24.
The development was contained in an official notice dated February 8, 2026, signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, on the directive of the Senate President.
Although the notice did not specify the reason for the emergency sitting, the timing suggests it is linked to the national controversy surrounding the amendment of the Electoral Act, particularly the rejection of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results.
Parliamentary sources explained that the Senate must reconvene to formally approve the votes and proceedings, a step required to validate the decisions taken and clarify whether “transfer” or “electronic transmission” was adopted.
Without this approval, the conference committee set up to harmonise the Senate and House of Representatives versions of the bill cannot effectively begin its work.
Members of the conference committee include Senator Simon Lalong (Chairman), Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, Senator Tahir Monguno, Senator Adamu Aliero, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Abba Moro, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Senator Aminu Iya Abbas, and Senator Tokunbo Abiru.
Other Key Changes in the Electoral Bill
Beyond electronic transmission, the Senate also introduced significant changes to other sections of the bill.
It removed stricter penalties for vote-buying and voter card trading, which proposed fines ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million and a 10-year ban from contesting elections.
The Senate reduced INEC’s notice period for elections from 360 days to 180 days under Clause 28, and shortened the timeline for political parties to submit candidates’ lists from 180 days to 90 days under Clause 29.
Under Clause 47, smart card readers were replaced with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), while the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) was retained as the sole voter identification method at polling units.
Clause 142, which sought to ease proof of non-compliance in election petitions by relying mainly on documentary evidence, was also removed amid concerns it could overwhelm the courts.
NBA, Civil Society, NLC React
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) expressed concern over delays in concluding work on the Electoral Act amendment but noted that the 2027 elections could still proceed under the existing legal framework.
NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, said improvements would be welcome but cautioned that even the best laws could be undermined by restrictive judicial interpretations.
Civil society leader Clement Nwankwo, Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), accused the Senate of undermining national consensus by allegedly altering an agreed version of the bill.
He urged INEC to immediately issue the statutory notice for the 2027 elections under the current law, warning that secrecy around legislative processes could erode public trust.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened mass action and a possible nationwide election boycott if real-time electronic transmission is not clearly mandated.
In a statement signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, the NLC warned that ambiguity in the law could plunge the country into another electoral crisis and undermine confidence in the 2027 polls.
The labour body demanded immediate clarity from the Senate, warning that failure to restore transparent and unambiguous provisions could lead to mass action before, during and after future elections.
Fresh Details Emerge as Senate Rejects Real-Time Electronic Transmission of Election Results Ahead of 2027
