Civil society organisations, including the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) and the International Press Centre (IPC), have strongly criticised the Nigerian Senate over its recent amendment to the Electoral Act, which removed the provision for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results.
Under the amended bill, lawmakers approved only discretionary electronic transmission of results, to be conducted after votes are counted and publicly announced at polling units.
This change, according to stakeholders, could weaken transparency and public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Executive Directors of CEMESO and IPC, Dr Akin Akingbulu and Lanre Arogundade, insist that real-time electronic transmission should remain compulsory.
They argue that election results should be uploaded electronically immediately after counting, in the presence of party agents, election observers, and voters, to prevent manipulation and enhance credibility.
According to the organisations, immediate electronic upload of polling unit results would significantly strengthen public confidence, reduce disputes, and improve accountability across the electoral system.
However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio defended the amendment, explaining that the real-time transmission requirement was removed to minimise potential legal challenges that could arise from network failures during elections.
He noted that the change allows the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the flexibility to determine the most suitable method for result transmission based on prevailing conditions.
Despite this justification, concerns continue to mount.
Residents within the metropolis have also joined calls for mandatory real-time electronic transmission, urging authorities to address potential technical and connectivity challenges well ahead of the 2027 polls.
Amid increasing pressure from civil society groups and the public, the Senate has announced an emergency plenary sitting scheduled for tomorrow to reconsider the contentious clauses in the Electoral Act amendment bill.
Observers say the outcome of the session could have far-reaching implications for electoral transparency, democratic integrity, and voter confidence in Nigeria.
