Senate Keeps Manual Backup Despite 15 Lawmakers Rejecting Clause 60

According to Ireporter Online, the Senate on Tuesday approved the electronic transmission of election results while retaining manual collation as a backup, following a contentious plenary session in which 15 lawmakers opposed Clause 60 of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2026.

The decision came after a heated division, with 55 senators voting to maintain the manual fallback provision, and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC/Abia South) along with 14 colleagues opposing it. The upper chamber had earlier passed the bill but rescinded it for reconsideration due to concerns over discrepancies in several clauses and the timing of the 2027 general elections announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Tuesday’s session was dominated by disagreements over Clause 60, which outlines the transmission and collation of election results. Abaribe’s demand for a division triggered a rowdy debate, reminiscent of his previous attempt last week, which he had withdrawn amid pressure. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele urged colleagues to respect Abaribe’s procedural rights, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio reminded lawmakers of the prior withdrawn demand.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin raised concerns about revisiting previously ruled provisions, citing the Senate Standing Orders, but Bamidele clarified that his formal motion for rescission had nullified prior decisions, legitimizing the current debate.

Ultimately, the majority prevailed, with 55 senators supporting the retention of the manual backup clause. Under the amended provision, manually completed and signed Form EC8A will serve as the primary reference for collation where electronic transmission is disrupted. Polling unit results will still be uploaded electronically to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV), but manual documentation remains decisive in case of network failures.

Earlier in the plenary, the Senate rescinded its previous passage of the bill and returned it to the Committee of the Whole following INEC’s announcement of the February 2027 general elections, citing potential conflicts with statutory timelines, logistical challenges, and voter inclusiveness, including the impact of Ramadan. Discrepancies in multiple clauses of the bill were also highlighted, necessitating clause-by-clause reconsideration.

Despite the minority bloc’s opposition, electronic transmission was restored, though real-time uploads were not made compulsory. Senators on both sides received commendation from Akpabio for their conduct, with the Senate President emphasizing that elections are determined at polling units, not collation centers. He noted that electronic transmission remains a significant innovation, enabling election monitors and observers to track results without visiting Nigeria’s more than 176,000 polling units.

Protests continued outside the National Assembly, with demonstrators under the banner of Occupy the National Assembly warning lawmakers against actions that could compromise the credibility of the 2027 elections.