No Going Back’ — Senate Clarifies Stance On Electronic Transmission Of Election Results

According to Ireporter Online, the Senate has dismissed claims that it rejected the electronic transmission of election results during deliberations on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill.

The clarification was given by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, shortly after the upper legislative chamber passed the bill following an extensive plenary session that lasted over four hours.

The controversy emerged after lawmakers considered the amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the bill, a process that began around 2:00 pm and concluded at approximately 6:26 pm. The prolonged debate sparked widespread speculation across social media platforms, with reports suggesting that senators had voted against mandatory electronic transmission of election results.

Some online reports alleged that the Senate turned down a proposal that would have required presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically transmit polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal in real time after completing and endorsing result forms. It was further claimed that the lawmakers retained the existing provision of the Electoral Act, which allows results to be transferred “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”

Responding to the reports, Akpabio described the interpretation as misleading, insisting that electronic transmission was not removed from the law. He explained that the Senate merely retained the provision that existed in the previous Electoral Act and was applied during the 2022 electoral process.

The Senate President emphasised that the current provision continues to permit electronic transmission of results and remains consistent with established electoral practices. He added that the Senate under his leadership has not taken any step to reverse progress made in the electoral process, noting that such a move would be counterproductive.

Akpabio stressed that the Senate’s decision preserves the existing legal framework that allows for electronic transmission, warning against misinformation and urging the public to rely on official legislative records for accurate interpretation.

Electronic transmission of election results has remained a highly debated issue in Nigeria’s electoral reforms since the 2023 general elections, with civil society groups and opposition parties calling for clearer legal provisions to enhance transparency and strengthen public trust in the electoral system.

Akpabio’s remarks were aimed at addressing public concerns and correcting what he described as misrepresentation of the Senate’s actions, as the National Assembly continues work on electoral reforms ahead of future polls.