PDP Kicks Against Manual Result Transmission in Electoral Act Amendment

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has called on Nigerians to oppose a provision in the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2026, which permits the manual transmission of election results, cautioning that it could weaken transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, criticised the National Assembly’s handling of the amendment, accusing the House of Representatives of reversing its earlier position and aligning with the Senate on a clause the party believes could compromise the credibility of future polls.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate approved electronic transmission of election results but retained manual collation as a fallback option. The decision followed a heated plenary session during which 15 senators resisted the inclusion of the disputed proviso under Clause 60 of the proposed legislation.

Voting on the clause revealed sharp divisions among lawmakers. While 55 senators backed the manual backup provision, Enyinnaya Abaribe and 14 others voted against it.

Reacting to the outcome, the PDP described the development as a setback for electoral accountability, arguing that the inclusion of a manual alternative could open the door to irregularities. The party maintained that elected representatives have a duty to prioritise public interest and safeguard democratic values, warning that the clause could erode confidence in the electoral process if allowed to stand.