ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Senate on Tuesday made a sharp policy turn, approving the electronic transmission of election results while retaining a manual fallback mechanism to address possible technical failures.
The decision came after lawmakers rescinded an earlier position that rejected compulsory electronic transmission of results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IREV), a move that had sparked nationwide criticism and protests.
Under the revised amendment to the Electoral Act, electronic transmission will now serve as the primary mode for uploading election results.
However, where internet connectivity or other technical challenges occur, Form EC8A manually completed, signed, and stamped by the presiding officer will be used for result collation.
The amendment removed the phrase “real-time” from the transmission requirement but affirmed electronic upload as the standard procedure in the electoral process.
The shift followed a tense and often rowdy plenary session, as lawmakers sharply disagreed over the reliability of technology and the continued relevance of manual safeguards.
Concerns were raised on the floor of the Senate over the implication of relying on Form EC8A in disputed elections, with some senators warning that it could reopen loopholes the Electoral Act was designed to close.
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The disagreements prompted Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe to initially call for an individual vote to clearly establish each lawmaker’s position.
He, however, withdrew the request moments later, after which the Senate adopted the revised proposal through a voice vote.
The debate was triggered by a motion sponsored by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, which sought the rescission of the Senate’s earlier approval of Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026 dealing with the transmission of election results.
As deliberations intensified, Senate President Godswill Akpabio threw his weight behind a compromise framework that prioritises electronic transmission while permitting manual submission strictly where technical challenges arise.
Meanwhile, the Senate also constituted a 12-member conference committee to harmonise its version of the Electoral Act amendment with that passed by the House of Representatives.
Announcing the committee during the emergency plenary, Akpabio said the membership was expanded from nine to twelve following consultations with Senate leadership.
The committee is chaired by Senator Simon Bako Lalong, with members including Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Adamu Aliero, Orji Uzor Kalu, Abba Moro, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Aminu Iya Abbas, Tokunbo Abiru, Niyi Adegbonmire (SAN), Jibrin Isah, Ipalibo Banigo, and Onyekachi Nwebonyi.
Akpabio urged the committee to treat the assignment with urgency, expressing optimism that the harmonisation process would be concluded swiftly.
According to him, the final document would be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent within February, adding that the President could sign the bill into law within one week.
Tuesday’s emergency sitting followed mounting public outrage over last week’s amendment of Clause 60(3), which removed mandatory real-time electronic transmission and restored INEC’s discretion under the 2022 Electoral Act.
The development triggered protests across the country, including the Occupy National Assembly demonstration in Abuja. Civil society organisations, opposition parties, and prominent political figures such as Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi demanded mandatory electronic transmission, arguing that it remains critical to electoral transparency and credibility.