The Nigerian Senate has approved the electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV), while retaining manual collation as a fallback option in cases of network or technological failure.

The approval followed a reconsideration of a controversial clause in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill during an emergency plenary session held on Tuesday.

However, the upper legislative chamber declined to make electronic transmission mandatory and also rejected real-time uploading of results, a move that has drawn mixed reactions from stakeholders.

How the Amended Clause Works

Under the revised Section 60 (3) of the Electoral Act, presiding officers at polling units are required to electronically transmit results to the IReV portal after voting, counting, and documentation have been completed.

The transmission must occur after Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the presiding officer and countersigned by candidates or polling agents, where available.

The amendment further provides that where electronic transmission fails due to communication or network challenges, the manual result sheet (Form EC8A) shall serve as the primary basis for collation and declaration of results.

Akpabio Explains Senate’s Decision

While putting the motion to a voice vote, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged dissenting lawmakers to formally challenge the amendment.

“If you disagree with him, move your counter motion. So, if you agree with him, you agree with me when I put the votes,” Akpabio said.

He explained that the motion sought to reverse an earlier Senate decision on the disputed section of the Electoral Act.

Reading the amended provision, Akpabio stated that the law now accounts for situations where electronic transmission is impossible, ensuring elections are not stalled due to technical failures.

“Provided that if electronic transmission fails as a result of communication failure or network issues, the Form EC8A shall in such a case be the primary source of collation and declaration of results,” he said.

Transparency Concerns Emerge

The amendment has triggered concerns from civil society organisations and opposition figures, who argue that allowing manual results to override electronically transmitted ones could weaken electoral transparency.

Critics warn that the provision may create room for manipulation, particularly in rural areas with poor network coverage, undermining public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.