JUST IN: Senate Approves Electronic Transmission of Election Results, Provides Backup for Network Failures

The Senate has approved an amendment to the Electoral Act mandating the electronic transmission of polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Clause 60(3) of the amended bill requires presiding officers to upload results electronically after completing Form EC8A. The form must be signed and stamped by the presiding officer and, where present, countersigned by candidates or their polling agents before transmission.

The amendment also addresses potential technical issues. If electronic transmission fails due to network or communication problems, the signed and stamped Form EC8A will serve as the primary document for collating and declaring results.

The move comes amid growing calls for greater transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process, ensuring that technology is legally integrated into result management while providing a clear backup mechanism.