Senate in Rowdy Session Over Move to Reverse Decision on E-Transmission

The Nigerian Senate was thrown into a rowdy session on Tuesday following moves to reverse its earlier decision on electronic transmission of election results during consideration of amendments to the Electoral Act.

Tensions rose on the Senate floor as lawmakers disagreed over whether the chamber could revisit a clause already voted on, with several senators raising points of order and engaging in heated exchanges. The controversy followed widespread criticism of the Senate’s earlier decision to remove mandatory electronic transmission of results from polling units. The motion to reconsider the clause was brought forward amid growing public pressure from civil society groups, labour unions and pro-democracy advocates who argued that electronic transmission is crucial for transparency and credibility in elections ahead of the 2027 general polls. During the debate, Minority Leader Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe called for an individual vote to clearly establish the position of each senator on the contentious amendment. His request further heightened tensions in the chamber, leading to protests from some lawmakers. However, Abaribe later withdrew his call for individual voting, allowing the presiding officer to proceed with a voice vote in order to restore calm and move proceedings forward. Following the reversal, the Senate adopted a revised provision that recognises electronic transmission of results as the primary method, while allowing manual transmission as a backup in areas where technical or network challenges occur. Senate President Godswill Akpabio subsequently announced the constitution of a conference committee to harmonise differences between the Senate and House of Representatives versions of the Electoral Act amendment bill.