How Three Southern Senators Blocked Real-Time Electronic Transmission of Election Results — Report

Fresh details have emerged on how three Southern senators influenced the Senate to reject a proposal that would have made real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory ahead of the 2027 general election, according to a report by Vanguard.

The proposal was part of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026 (SB. 903), specifically an amendment to Clause 60(3). It sought to require presiding officers to upload polling unit results directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) immediately after votes were counted and Form EC8A was signed.

The amendment was part of broader reforms, including adjustments to election timelines, penalties for electoral offences, and the use of voting technology. Despite initial support, the 10th Senate, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, voted against it.

Sources said the Senate initially retained the real-time transmission provision during a closed session, and an ad-hoc committee led by Senator Niyi Adegbonmire (APC, Ondo Central) had endorsed it after extensive consultations with INEC, civil society, and other stakeholders. Page 45 of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters’ report specified:

“The Presiding Officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IReV portal in real time and such transmission shall be done after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and/or countersigned by the candidates or polling agents available at the polling unit.”

According to sources, the decision shifted late in the legislative process. “Many senators assumed the clause would pass smoothly,” one source said. “That was when the unexpected happened.” The source added that three ranking Southern senators reportedly convinced Senate President Akpabio to retain the existing law, which allows results to be transmitted only after votes are counted and publicly announced at polling units.

The word “transmission” was replaced with “transfer” to align with the 2022 Electoral Act, removing the requirement for real-time uploads without further floor debate.

Following public backlash, the Senate announced an emergency plenary for February 10, 2026, at 12:00 noon. The notice, signed by Clerk Emmanuel Odo, did not explicitly cite Clause 60(3) as the reason, but observers linked it to the controversy over the amendment.

The rejection drew criticism from civil society and professional bodies. Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the delay in finalizing the Electoral Act amendments could affect preparations for the 2027 elections but noted that the polls could proceed under the existing law. He emphasized that technological issues, like result transmission, only become relevant on election day.

Clement Nwankwo, Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), accused the Senate of altering an agreed version of the bill, describing it as a “legislative ambush” that undermines national consensus.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned of mass action or a possible nationwide election boycott if the Senate does not clarify the requirement for real-time electronic transmission. NLC President Joe Ajaero called for an “immediate, official and unambiguous account” of the proceedings, stressing that legislative uncertainty risks repeating the controversies that followed the 2023 elections.

Beyond Clause 60(3), the Senate also made other significant changes to the bill:

* Reduced penalties for illegal buying and selling of voter cards.

* Shortened INEC’s notice of election from 360 days to 180 days.

* Cut political parties’ candidate submission timelines from 180 to 90 days.

* Retained Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) instead of electronic IDs but replaced smart card readers with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

* Removed a provision easing proof of non-compliance in election petitions to prevent potential court congestion.

Parliamentary sources said the emergency sitting will also clarify whether “transfer” or “electronic transmission” was officially adopted and allow the conference committee to finalize harmonization with the House of Representatives. Members of the committee include Senators Simon Lalong, Niyi Adegbonmire, Tahir Monguno, Adamu Aliero, Orji Uzor Kalu, Abba Moro, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Aminu Iya Abbas, and Tokunbo Abiru.