Akpabio Explains Senate Position on Electronic Transmission of Election Results

Senate President Godswill Akpabio says the Senate did not reject electronic transmission of election results during debate on the Electoral Act amendment bill, but chose to retain the wording already contained in the 2022 law.

Speaking on Saturday in Abuja at a book launch on the work of legislators, Akpabio said the chamber’s decision centred on removing the phrase “real time” from the proposal, not on blocking electronic transmission.

He said the term could create legal disputes if network failures or technical disruptions prevent immediate uploads from polling units.

> “All we said during discussion was that we should remove the word ‘real-time’ because if you say real-time, then there is a network or grid failure and the network is not working. When you go to court, somebody will say it ought to have been real-time. That was all we said,” Akpabio said.

According to him, the adjustment was intended to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) discretion to determine how results are transmitted, taking into account technical and security realities.

Akpabio added that the Senate would continue to pass laws that reflect public interest.

The clarification follows criticism that trailed the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill 2026 at third reading last week. Lawmakers declined a proposal to amend Clause 60(3) to make electronic transmission of results from polling units to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IREV) mandatory and in real time.

The rejected clause would have required presiding officers to upload results electronically to the IREV portal immediately after completing and signing Form EC8A alongside party agents.

Instead, the Senate retained the existing provision in the 2022 Act, which states that presiding officers shall transfer results “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”

Former Senate President David Mark, reacting to the development, said the National Assembly should leave the decision on electronic transmission to INEC. He added that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) supports electronic transmission of results.