Tension Erupts As NASS Committee Convenes Over Election Result Transmission

Heightened political tension gripped the National Assembly on Monday as a 24-member Conference Committee drawn from both chambers convened to harmonise positions on the contentious mode of transmitting election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV). The committee, made up of 12 lawmakers each from the Senate and the House of Representatives, is expected to take a final decision on Section 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill — a provision that recently sparked controversy and prompted an emergency session in the Senate.

According to Ireporter Online, intense lobbying preceded the meeting, with indications that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), which holds the majority in both chambers, is backing the Senate’s version of the amendment. The Senate proposal provides for both electronic and manual transmission of election results, removes the “real-time” requirement, and recognises the manual Form EC8A as the primary document in the event of technological failure.

By contrast, the House of Representatives’ version makes real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units to the IReV portal mandatory. Civil society organisations and opposition parties argue that this approach would significantly curb electoral manipulation and strengthen transparency.

Critics of the Senate’s position have voiced concerns that the revised clause could weaken public confidence in the electoral process. Former Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Peter Ameh, described the Senate’s amendment as cosmetic, warning that the conditional provision allowing electronic transmission only “where the system does not fail” creates ambiguity capable of fostering confusion and distrust.

Senator Seriake Dickson has openly endorsed the House position, urging members of the conference committee to adopt it in its entirety. He maintained that the House proposal reflected earlier consensus reached among joint committees of the National Assembly, consultants and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which had reportedly expressed readiness to deploy electronic transmission. Dickson described the clause as pivotal to safeguarding electoral integrity, lamenting that an earlier consensus was replaced with what he characterised as a weaker provision.

Similarly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan stressed that mandatory real-time transmission is vital for deepening transparency, protecting the sanctity of votes and restoring public trust in Nigeria’s democratic process.

Despite resistance from opposition lawmakers, insiders suggest that the APC leadership is determined to ensure the Senate’s model prevails. A member of the harmonisation committee, who spoke anonymously, noted that while minority voices would be heard, the majority would ultimately determine the outcome, pointing to the APC’s numerical dominance in both chambers. In the Senate, where the ruling party holds a commanding majority, nine of the twelve members on the conference committee are reportedly aligned with the party, a factor observers say could tilt the decision in favour of the Senate’s flexible framework.

Supporters of the Senate’s position argue that legislation must reflect Nigeria’s infrastructural realities. An APC lawmaker in the House contended that making real-time uploads compulsory in areas with limited network connectivity could invalidate legitimate votes due to technical failures. Another senior member of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Musa Adamu (APC, Kano), maintained that granting INEC discretion does not equate to abandoning transparency but rather avoids legal complications arising from technological glitches. He also dismissed allegations of double standards over the APC’s adoption of online party registration while expressing caution about mandatory real-time result uploads, arguing that managing party data differs significantly from conducting nationwide general elections across approximately 176,000 polling units.

Opposition lawmakers, however, insist that only compulsory real-time electronic transmission can guarantee credibility. Labour Party lawmaker Chinedu Okafor warned that leaving the process to discretion could fuel public suspicion, advocating for alternative technological solutions, including satellite backups where network coverage is weak.

INEC officials have consistently reiterated their commitment to technological innovation, while emphasising the need for clear legislative backing and adequate funding. A source familiar with ongoing negotiations hinted that the committee might consider a compromise — mandating uploads where network coverage exists, alongside clearly defined fallback procedures in areas without connectivity.

As deliberations continue, lawmakers face three possible outcomes: adoption of the House’s strict real-time requirement, endorsement of the Senate’s discretionary model, or a blended compromise. The eventual decision is expected to shape not only the legal framework for the 2027 general elections but also the trajectory of public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic system.