Senators Divided Over Electronic Transmission of Election Results

Senators Divided Over Electronic Transmission of Election Results
Opposition insists Senate has not dropped the provision
Controversy sparks reactions ahead of 2027 elections

The Senate was sharply divided on Thursday as opposition lawmakers pushed back against reports that the upper chamber had removed mandatory electronic transmission of election results from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the controversy followed widespread public outrage after Wednesday’s plenary session, where remarks by Senate President Godswill Akpabio were widely interpreted as a rejection of real time electronic transmission of results.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, a group of 13 opposition senators led by Enyinnaya Abaribe insisted that the Senate had not taken a final position on the issue and that the provision remained part of the ongoing legislative process.

Abaribe, flanked by Senators Victor Umeh, Abdul Ningi and others, said the lawmakers firmly supported the amendment to Clause 60 subsection 3 of the bill, which mandates the Independent National Electoral Commission to transmit polling unit results electronically in real time.

He said more than two thirds of the Senate supported electronic transmission and vowed to protect the provision until the bill is transmitted to the President for assent.

“To put the record straight, the Senate did not reject electronic transmission of results. What was passed was electronic transmission, as clearly stated during clarification on the floor,” Abaribe said.

He explained that the Senate was yet to reconvene to approve the votes and proceedings of the plenary session, stressing that deliberations on the bill had not been concluded.

The disputed provision states that presiding officers shall electronically transmit polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing portal after results are signed and stamped.

The confusion stemmed from Akpabio’s announcement that Clause 60 was adopted “as amended” during clause by clause consideration of the bill, triggering reports that the real time transmission requirement had been dropped.

Abaribe clarified that joint committees of the Senate and House of Representatives had previously agreed on mandatory electronic transmission after extensive consultations and retreats.

He said the consensus was reflected in committee reports considered during the Senate’s closed session.

Despite the clarification, the controversy drew strong reactions from opposition parties and civil society groups.

The Peoples Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress and New Nigeria Peoples Party jointly criticised the reported rejection, warning that weakening electronic transmission could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, also condemned the development, describing it as a deliberate attempt to manipulate the electoral process.

Electronic Transmission of Election Results

The senators, however, assured Nigerians that electronic transmission of results remained intact and pledged to ensure transparency is preserved in the final version of the Electoral Act amendment.