Senate Blocks Mandatory E–Transmission of Election Results

Senate Blocks Mandatory E–Transmission of Election Results

By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

The Nigerian Senate has officially rejected a proposed amendment to the Electoral Act that would have made the electronic transmission of results mandatory.

This decision was reached during the legislative session on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

The failed amendment targeted Clause 60, seeking to legally compel INEC to upload results in real-time to the IREV portal.

Proponents argued this change was vital to ensure transparency and prevent manual interference.

Under the rejected proposal, presiding officers would have been legally required to upload results immediately after signing the necessary forms. The rejection keeps this process as a discretionary power rather than a statutory obligation.

Instead, the Senate retained the existing provision, which grants INEC full control over the method of result transfer. This allows the commission to determine its own procedures rather than following a strict legal mandate.

Opposing legislators cited concerns over nationwide technical capacity and network coverage as reasons for the rejection. However, critics argue this move may undermine public confidence in the integrity of future electoral cycles.

The Senate ultimately upheld the current legal language, confirming 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.”