• George, Okurounmu, Toyese, others condemn rejection of e-transmission
• Blocking electronic results a betrayal of public trust, says Yiaga Africa
• ‘Failure is a lethal assault on Nigeria’s democracy’
• Tinubu urged to withhold assent
• KDI, CODE fault amendments, demand transparency

NIGERIANS yesterday reacted angrily to the attempt by the 10th Senate to undermine the review of the Electoral Act 2022 amendment, as civil society organisations, election monitors, political activists and opposition stakeholders voiced strong objections.

Stakeholders warned that blocking the electronic transmission of results would further expose the electoral process to manipulation and diminish public confidence in election outcomes.

As condemnations continue to trail the National Assembly’s rejection of electronic transmission of results in the recently passed Electoral Act 2026, critics say the decision has once again dashed Nigerians’ hopes for free, fair and transparent elections in 2027.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) condemned the decision of the 10th APC-led Senate to reject critical provisions that would have strengthened the credibility, transparency and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.

“Foremost among these is the rejection of electronic transmission of election results, a move that clearly signals yet another attempt by the APC to undermine the will of the Nigerian people and manipulate future elections,” the opposition party stated.

It all began when the upper legislative chamber passed a revised Electoral Act that sought to weaken, rather than strengthen, the use of technology through real-time transmission of ballot outcomes from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing portal during elections.

The general apprehension among citizens underscores the fact that Nigerians are no longer prepared to accept half-measures or a shabby-shabby approach to the 2027 general election. Riled by the massive public outrage, Senate leaders attempted to push back with contradictory explanations, leaving the impression that lawmakers are not united in the patriotic resolve to do right by establishing a credible legislative framework to support transparent, inclusive and credible polls in the country.

Cocktail of confusion, clarifications, contradictions

Barely 24 hours after the Senate passed the Electoral Bill 2026, word filtered into the public domain and social media that lawmakers had jettisoned real-time electronic transmission of election results — a provision widely hailed as a game changer in Nigeria’s search for credible elections.
Worried by what was billowing into a possible trigger for civil unrest, a group of senators moved swiftly to counter the narrative, only to deepen public confusion over which amendment the upper chamber actually approved.

Recall that last Wednesday, during clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral Act amendment bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced that Clause 60 was adopted “as amended and not as recommended”.
That ruling was widely interpreted to mean that the Senate had jettisoned Section 60(3) — the provision mandating real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) IREV portal.

In the immediate backlash that followed, civil society groups, opposition figures and election observers accused the Senate of retreating from electoral transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
By yesterday (Thursday), however, 13 senators across party lines, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South), hurriedly convened a press briefing at the National Assembly, insisting that the Senate did not reject electronic transmission of results and blaming media misrepresentation for the growing apprehension.
Abaribe, flanked by his colleagues, declared: “We came out to correct the wrong impression. The Senate did not — I repeat — did not reject electronic transmission of results.”

Bone of contention

The contentious Section 60(3) of the Electoral Bill 2026 stipulates 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 the candidates or polling agents available at the polling unit.”
Flowing from Wednesday’s plenary, it was widely reported that this provision was rejected, just as the Senate opted to retain the 2022 Electoral Act framework, which allows electronic transmission but does not explicitly mandate real-time upload to IREV.

However, separate Senate accounts of proceedings revealed that lawmakers voted down a recommendation compelling real-time upload, citing concerns over network failures, logistics and the risk of post-election litigation.
Yet, at Thursday’s briefing, Abaribe acknowledged the controversy but maintained that the Senate’s intention had been misunderstood.

His words: “To put the record straight, yesterday the Senate did not pass transfer of results, which was what existed in the 2022 Act. What we passed is electronic transmission of results.”
Further, he claimed that the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, an ad hoc review committee and senators had all, during an executive session, agreed on electronic transmission as captured in Section 60(3).

Abaribe’s assurance that “we will monitor this very important provision to the point of transmission for presidential assent” fed the impression that the battle over the clause was not yet over.
He noted that there was still room for further scrutiny of what the Senate actually passed, remarking: “Until the Votes and Proceedings are adopted, harmonisation cannot take place. When that happens, we will insist that what we passed — electronic transmission of results — is reflected.”

Also speaking, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) described reports of the Senate rejecting electronic transmission as “very painful”, arguing that the narrative undermined months of legislative work.
According to Ningi: “At no time since September last year, when this process started, did the Senate jettison the need for a legal provision for electronic transmission of results by INEC.”

While blaming what he called a “negative trajectory” against the National Assembly, Ningi pledged that lawmakers would ensure Section 60(3) survives the legislative process, even as it was learnt that the Votes and Proceedings from Wednesday’s sitting had not yet been formally adopted — a procedural step required before the harmonisation committee with the House of Representatives can begin work.

Nonetheless, despite the senators’ reassurances, the contradictions remained apparent, as the official passage announced by the Senate President and reflected in early reports suggested a rejection of mandatory real-time upload.
Meanwhile, another Senate account of proceedings explicitly stated that lawmakers rejected a proposal compelling real-time upload to IREV, opting instead to retain the 2022 framework.

The unresolved tension between these versions has intensified scrutiny of the Senate’s internal processes and raised questions about whether the final law will reflect public demands for transparent, technology-driven elections.
While harmonisation with the House of Representatives and presidential assent are still required before the bill becomes an Act of Parliament, Nigerians remain on edge, watching closely to see what ultimately appears in black and white as the final Electoral Act 2026.

Disagreement between Green, Red Chambers
As the furore over the amended Electoral Act persists, it has become clear that the apparent disagreement between the lower legislative arm — the Green Chamber — and its counterpart, the Red or upper chamber, can only be resolved when the conference panel meets to harmonise their divergent positions.
The House of Representatives and the Senate have begun moves to reconcile differences in their respective versions of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, following the constitution of a bipartisan Conference Committee by both chambers.

The move follows disagreements over key provisions of the proposed amendment, particularly Section 60(3), which deals with the electronic transmission of election results from polling units.
Yesterday, the Senate rejected a proposed amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill 2026 that sought to make electronic transmission of election results from polling units compulsory.
Instead, the Senate adopted the existing provision of the Electoral Act 2022, which states that “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”.

However, the House, in its December 2025 amendment, adopted mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal.
The Green Chamber’s version of Section 60(3) states: “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 the candidates or polling unit agents, where available, at the polling unit.”

In a correspondence dated February 4, 2026, the Clerk to the House of Representatives, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, conveyed the directive of the House leadership naming members of its Conference Committee to interface with their Senate counterparts.
The House committee is chaired by Rep Adebayo Balogun, with members including Fred Agbedi, Sada Soli, Ahmadu Jaha, Iduma Igariwey Enwo, Saidu Musa Abdullahi and Dr Zainab Gimba.

Spokesperson of the House, Akin Rotimi, said in a statement yesterday that the constitution of the committee was in line with legislative procedure for harmonising areas of difference between the versions of the bill passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.

“The committee,” he said, “is mandated to confer with its counterpart from the Senate with a view to harmonising the differing provisions of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill as passed by both chambers, ahead of final passage by the National Assembly.”

Rotimi added that the Green Chamber remained committed to advancing electoral reforms that strengthen transparency, credibility and public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Similarly, Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday announced members of the Senate Conference Committee to work alongside the House in harmonising the bill, adding that the committee would be chaired by Senator Simon Bako Lalong.

Other members include senators Niyi Adegbonmire, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Adamu Aliero, Orji Uzor Kalu, Abba Moro, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Aminu Abbas and Tokunbo Abiru.
The Conference Committee is expected to harmonise these areas of difference ahead of the final passage of the bill by the National Assembly, after which it will be transmitted to the President for assent.

CSO urges transparency

As the Electoral Act amendment bill heads to the conference committee stage, a civil society organisation, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), has called for stronger transparency measures.
KDI, in a statement by its Executive Director, Bukola Idowu, on Thursday, expressed concern over key decisions taken by the Senate, warning that some rejected provisions could weaken public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The organisation noted that the Senate’s refusal to make electronic transmission of election results mandatory, the removal of a proposed 10-year disqualification for persons convicted of vote buying, and the reduction of the statutory timeline for issuing election notices from 360 days to 180 days raise serious transparency and operational concerns.

According to KDI, mandatory electronic transmission had been widely viewed by civil society organisations, election observers and youth groups as a visible safeguard for strengthening trust in election outcomes.
Idowu said: “The absence of clearer statutory obligations may continue to leave room for differing interpretations and operational discretion. This development raises concerns about preparedness for credible elections in 2027.”

KDI also described vote buying as one of the most corrosive threats to Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that sanctions for electoral crimes must serve as effective deterrents.
It warned that shortening the election notice period could place undue operational pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission and political parties, increasing the risk of logistical challenges and pre-election disputes.

According to the organisation, the divergence presents lawmakers with an opportunity to carefully balance operational realities with public expectations as the bill undergoes harmonisation.

“As the Electoral Act Amendment Bill moves to the conference committee, lawmakers have an opportunity to ensure that the final legislation not only protects institutional stability but also strengthens citizen confidence,” the statement added.

George, Okurounmu, Toyese, others flay Senate

A civil society organisation, Yiaga Africa, has described the Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill as a betrayal of public trust.
The group said the action was a calculated attempt to weaken safeguards designed to ensure free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.

Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, stated on his official X handle (@DSamsonItodo), following the Senate’s rejection of what many consider a critical reform, that the decision represented a major setback to Nigeria’s democratic progress and undermined years of advocacy aimed at strengthening electoral transparency and accountability.

According to Itodo, retaining compressed election timelines would increase the risk of logistical problems during polls. He, however, expressed optimism that the conference panel would reject the Senate’s position and restore the progressive provisions needed to make votes count in 2027.

He wrote: “The Nigerian Senate @SenateNGR rejected electronic transmission of results, blocked the download of electronic voter cards from INEC’s website, reduced the notice of election from 360 days to 180 days, and cut the timeline for publishing the list of candidates from 150 days to 60 days.

“These compressed timelines will increase the risk of logistics problems during elections. What the Senate passed today is not reform. It is a betrayal of public trust and a deliberate attempt to weaken all the guardrails for credible elections. The Senate’s position sharply contrasts with the progressive stance taken by the House of Reps @HouseNGR.

“We hope the conference committee will reject the Senate’s position and restore the progressive provisions that will make votes count in 2027.”

Also reacting on her Facebook page, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, threw her weight behind real-time electronic transmission of results, saying that failure to adopt it amounted to “a lethal assault on Nigeria’s democracy”.

Don’t assent to Act, President Tinubu told

Expressing displeasure over lawmakers’ refusal to include electronic transmission in the new law, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bode George, described the position of the National Assembly as an aberration that Nigerians must collectively reject.

George urged Bola Tinubu to withhold assent to the bill until the electronic transmission clause is reinstated, warning that failure to do so could plunge the country into chaos.
Reacting yesterday, George said the move ran contrary to global trends in digitalisation and electoral transparency, and called on the Senate leadership to reconsider its position.

He described the decision as a major shock, especially at a time when political activities ahead of the next general elections are beginning to gather momentum, regretting that leaving room for manual processes without mandatory electronic transmission could undermine public confidence in the electoral system.

He said Nigeria should be moving forward in line with technological advancement, rather than reversing reforms aimed at strengthening electoral credibility.
George also called on the Senate President to revisit the amendment, warning that failure to do so could weaken trust in the democratic process. He stressed the need for fairness, equity and justice in elections, adding that credible leadership can only emerge through transparent voting and result-management systems.

He said that, as a trained computer and electronics engineer, he had confidence in the growing global reliance on digital systems across sectors — including transportation and border control — as evidence that Nigeria should not retreat from technology-driven electoral solutions.
While urging lawmakers to align electoral laws with modern standards that promote accountability and accuracy, George appealed to Nigerians to take interest in reforms that strengthen the integrity of elections.

“The credibility of the country’s democratic institutions depends on the trustworthiness of the voting and collation process.

“I appeal to the Senate President to reconsider this decision and ensure the electoral process is transparent and independent. This will encourage Nigerians to participate in shaping their country’s future. I urge the Senate to revisit this decision and prioritise the nation’s interests,” he said.

Similarly, an Afenifere chieftain and former senator, Femi Okurounmu, expressed dismay over the lawmakers’ decision, insisting that the omission was deliberate and against the broader interests of Nigerians.
He argued that the inclusion of electronic transmission alone would have restored public confidence and assured citizens of credible and transparent elections in 2027.

Also speaking, the PDP National Vice Chairman in the South-West, Ajisafe Toyese, urged Nigerians to demand explanations from their representatives over the rejection of electronic transmission of results.
Toyese warned that the international community was closely monitoring developments in Nigeria and cautioned those in power against assuming that the 2027 elections would be conducted in the same manner as in 2023.

On his part, the President of the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, Akin Malaolu, described the rejection of electronic transmission of polling results as a calculated attempt to manipulate the 2027 general elections and legitimise manual collation through coercion.
He warned that the stance of the National Assembly raised concerns about the sustainability of democracy beyond 2027, noting that rigged elections could trigger widespread resentment and instability.

“With recent coup rumours still lingering, leaders must be mindful of actions capable of truncating democracy, as witnessed on January 1, 1984,” he said.

CODE faults amendments

Connected Development (CODE), yesterday, raised concerns over key decisions taken by the Senate on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026.
It noted that electronic transmission of results is widely recognised as a critical reform for strengthening electoral credibility, particularly at the collation and transmission stages, which have historically generated disputes and allegations of manipulation.

Acting Chief Executive of CODE, Hyeladzira James Mshelia, said Nigeria’s electoral history shows that the most serious threats to credible elections often occur during result collation and transmission rather than at polling units.
Mshelia said: “With the Senate retaining legal ambiguity around electronic transmission and compressing critical timelines without complementary safeguards, it has preserved discretionary spaces that have historically enabled manipulation, elite interference and prolonged post-election disputes.

“When transparency is left to discretion, democracy is left to chance. Failing to mandate electronic transmission of results and compressing critical timelines without strengthening accountability weakens, rather than fortifies, Nigeria’s electoral integrity.”

Rigging plot

The African Democratic Congress accused the APC-led Senate of plotting to rig the 2027 general elections and compromise their outcome by refusing to accommodate mandatory electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act.

The party described the decision of the 10th Senate as retrogressive and called on Nigerians to reject it. It also urged the Conference Committee on the Electoral Act to throw out the Senate’s submission and pass amendments that align with democratic principles and reflect the will of the people.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party expressed disappointment at what it called the rejection of key reforms aimed at improving the credibility of future elections and enhancing the efficiency of INEC.
The ADC described the actions as a deliberate attempt to undermine democracy, faulting the refusal to allow electronic transmission of results and the rejection of provisions for electronic voter card downloads.

It also criticised the reduction of election notice periods and the shortened timelines for publishing candidate lists, saying the moves reveal the ruling party’s fear of free and fair elections in 2027 despite its political dominance.

Also reacting, the Advocacy for Knowledge and Civic Engagement Foundation (AdvoKC) strongly condemned the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, describing it as a major setback for Nigeria’s democracy and a betrayal of public trust.
In a statement by its Communications Manager, Luqman Adamu, the group accused the Akpabio-led 10th Senate of reversing hard-won electoral safeguards and ignoring lessons from the 2023 general elections.

According to AdvoKC, rather than advancing reforms that would strengthen transparency, accountability and public confidence, the amended bill reinforces existing weaknesses and shields electoral malpractice from effective scrutiny.

“The Senate had a historic opportunity to fix the failures exposed in 2023,” the organisation said. “Instead, it chose convenience over credibility and politics over people, dragging Nigeria’s electoral process backwards.”

The group warned that making transparency optional undermines electoral integrity. “When transparency becomes discretionary, fraud remains possible,” it added, noting that reforms that retreat from certainty cannot be described as genuine progress.
AdvoKC also criticised the reduction of the Notice of Election period from 360 days to 180 days, describing it as a deliberate return to conditions that previously caused logistical failures, late deployment of materials and voter disenfranchisement.

“Nigerians have lived through the chaos of rushed timelines before. Choosing it again is not accidental; it is regression,” the statement said.

The Senate also came under fire for weakening penalties for vote buying. AdvoKC described the proposed N5 million fine as grossly inadequate in an electoral system where billions of naira are routinely deployed for political influence.

Warning that lowering the cost of electoral malpractice effectively normalises corruption, the group said: “A penalty of this scale is not a deterrent; it is a fee.”
AdvoKC urged lawmakers to either pass an Electoral Act that genuinely serves the people or stop expending public funds on legislation that weakens democratic safeguards.