A coalition of youth-focused civil society organizations has urged the National Assembly conference committee tasked with harmonizing the Electoral Act amendment bill to adopt the version passed by the House of Representatives, which mandates the real-time electronic transmission of election results.
In a press release issued on February 12, 2026, the Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) Consortium welcomed the Senate’s recent decision to reverse its earlier position and approve electronic transmission of results. However, the group expressed concern that the Senate’s version of Clause 60(3) still allows a return to manual transfer in the event of technology failure, a loophole they say could enable electoral fraud.
“Individuals or groups with intentions to manipulate elections could leverage this provision to fake or cause internet connectivity problems in order to revert to the untrustworthy manual transfer process,” the statement warned.
The consortium noted that internet connectivity has improved significantly across Nigeria and that any remaining dark spots can be addressed before the 2027 general elections. They also highlighted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) can timestamp results for upload once network coverage is restored, ensuring transparency even in areas with intermittent connectivity.
The group commended the Senate for listening to public outcry and revisiting the bill, but insisted that only the House version, which mandates real-time electronic transmission can adequately protect the integrity of the electoral process.
“Nigerians overwhelmingly asked for mandatory electronic transmission of election results in real-time to address human interference and compromise of election collation processes,” the statement read.
YERP-Naija also applauded the Senate President’s directive for the conference committee to conclude harmonization within a week, allowing for presidential assent by the end of February 2026. They stressed that timely passage of the bill is critical to ensure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has adequate time to prepare for the 2027 elections.
The coalition cited support from professional bodies such as the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), which has affirmed that real-time electronic transmission is technically feasible.
“Nigeria stands at a defining moment in its democratic journey. The outcome of the harmonisation process will shape public confidence in the electoral system and the legitimacy of future elections,” the group stated.
The YERP-Naija Consortium is a non-partisan coalition with presence across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Its recommendations are drawn from nationwide youth surveys, forums, and stakeholder engagements. Over the past two and a half years, the group has participated in more than 25 National Assembly public hearings and held advocacy meetings with 171 federal and state legislators.
The statement was jointly signed by the consortium’s partners representing all six geopolitical zones, including Bukola Idowu of Kimpact Development Initiative (North Central), Zigwai Ayuba of J-DEV Foundation (North-West), Nonso Orakwe of Catch Them Young Community Initiative (South East) and The New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative NIGAWD.
