- He maintained that the existing law already accommodates electronic transmission and that the lawmakers merely preserved that provision
- Senate President Godswill Akpabio dismissed claims that the Senate had rejected electronic transmission of results
- Senators endorsed the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for accreditation and voting, replacing smart card readers
The Senate chamber has completed action on the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill 2026, passing the proposed law after its third reading.
During the consideration, Eko Hot Blog gathered that the lawmakers declined to adopt an amendment to Clause 60(3) that would have made the electronic upload of election results compulsory.
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The proposal sought to mandate INEC presiding officers to transmit polling unit results directly and in real time to the IREV portal once result forms were duly signed and endorsed.
Instead, senators agreed to retain the current wording of the law, which empowers presiding officers to forward election results, including accreditation figures and ballot outcomes, in a manner determined by the electoral commission.
Addressing the chamber at the close of proceedings, Senate President Godswill Akpabio dismissed claims that the Senate had rejected electronic transmission of results.
He maintained that the existing law already accommodates electronic transmission and that the lawmakers merely preserved that provision. Akpabio also insisted there was no intention to stall or undermine the amendment process.
Earlier in the session, the Senate reviewed sanctions related to the trading of Permanent Voter Cards. Lawmakers rejected a proposal prescribing a 10-year prison term for offenders, opting instead to keep a two-year jail sentence while raising the financial penalty from ₦2 million to ₦5 million.
Adjustments were also made to the election timetable. Clause 28 was amended to shorten the period for issuing notices of election from 360 days to 180 days before polling.
Similarly, under Clause 29, political parties are now required to submit their lists of candidates and accompanying affidavits 90 days to the election date, down from the previous 180 days.
The Senate maintained the provisions of Clause 44 on ballot paper design, which require INEC to invite political parties to inspect samples of electoral materials at least 20 days before an election, with parties given two days to communicate approval or objections.
In Clause 47, senators endorsed the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for accreditation and voting, replacing smart card readers.
However, proposals for electronically generated voter identification were rejected, with the Permanent Voter Card retained as the acceptable means of voter identification at polling units.
Lawmakers also removed Clause 142 on the consequences of non-compliance, which would have allowed election petitions to rely solely on documentary evidence without oral testimony.
The provision was dropped after arguments that it could unnecessarily complicate judicial proceedings.
Following the passage of the bill, the Senate announced the formation of a conference committee, to be led by Senator Tahir Munguno, to harmonise the legislation with the version passed by the House of Representatives.
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