Senator Orji Uzor Kalu on Tuesday reaffirmed his support for the electronic transmission of election results, distancing himself from a resurfaced video that appeared to suggest he once opposed the process.

The Abia North lawmaker spoke to journalists shortly after the Senate amended key provisions of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, during an emergency plenary session.

The revised Clause 60(3), according to lawmakers, allows presiding officers to transmit results electronically once Form EC8A has been duly completed and signed at polling units. Where technological infrastructure is available and functional, electronic transmission becomes the preferred method. However, in cases where connectivity fails, the signed Form EC8A remains the valid source of results for collation.

Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, described the amendment as a practical balance between technological advancement and on-ground realities.

He said the framework ensures transparency while protecting voters in areas with limited network access from being excluded from the process.

The senator also addressed a video circulating on social media, which critics claimed showed him opposing electronic transmission. In a statement issued by his media office, the footage was described as originating from debates held during the 9th Senate in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the statement, all senators visible in the clip were wearing face masks, confirming the timeline. It maintained that at no time during the current 10th Senate has Kalu opposed electronic transmission of results.

The statement further noted that the 10th Senate, under the leadership of Godswill Akpabio, has broadly supported electronic transmission as captured under Section 60(3) of the Electoral Act.

Speaking with reporters, Kalu said the resurfaced clip reflected earlier discussions centred on logistical limitations such as power supply and computer access, rather than outright opposition to electronic transmission.

He maintained that during both plenary and closed sessions in the current Senate, he had spoken in favour of strengthening electronic processes in elections.

The senator also clarified that part of the confusion stemmed from earlier legal wording used in Senate proceedings. According to him, a motion referencing the “transfer” of results electronically raised procedural concerns and was subsequently adjusted to align with established legal terminology before adoption.

During Tuesday’s sitting, lawmakers rescinded and re-amended sections of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to incorporate electronic transmission provisions without making real-time upload compulsory.

After several hours of deliberation, the Senate agreed that results may be transmitted electronically after Form EC8A has been signed and stamped at polling units. In instances where network challenges prevent immediate upload, the signed document will remain the primary reference point for collation and declaration.

The amendment stops short of mandating real-time electronic transmission nationwide but reinforces the legal backing for digital processes in Nigeria’s electoral framework.