Amidst serious criticism and protests from Nigerians, the country’s Senate has amended the Electoral Act, modifying Clause 60 to require the presiding officer at each polling unit to electronically transmit election results to the central IREV portal at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The Bill was passed almost unanimously.
The Motion was sponsored by Senator Tahir Monguno, representing Borno north, proposing that they rescind their approval of Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026.
The amendment came amidst protests and growing public pressure on the Legislature to amend the bill in an unambiguous manner to guarantee transparent collation and transmission of results electronically in the 2027 general elections.
However, according to the new provision, if electronic transmission fails due to communication/network issues, the manual result sheet (Form EC8A) would become the primary source for result collation.
The Senate passed the bill, stipulating that Result of Election shall be transmitted electronically to the INEC iRev after it has been filled in the appropriate form signed by INEC Officer in charge and party agents, where available.
During the proceedings, Minority Leader, Senator Abaribe, moved a motion asking all senators to vote individually on the clause mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results.
Immediately after Abaribe’s motion, Deputy Senate President rushed to meet Senate President Akpabio, and the chamber became rowdy.
Later, Senator Abaribe withdrew his motion but got no seconder from any of the senators.
Senate President Akpabio laughed over the development and urged the senators to vote.
With no response, Abaribe got up to say his motion for withdrawal needed no seconder.
After some seconds, Senate President Akpabio upheld Abaribe’s decision to withdraw his motion, where he asked all senators to vote individually on the clause mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results.
AMAECHI JOINS PROTEST
A former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, this morning February 10, joined protesters at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja to demand the mandatory inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of election results in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.
The protest followed mounting controversy over the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly over whether the Independent National Electoral Commission should be compelled to transmit results electronically and in real time from polling units.
Amaechi stood alongside the protesters who are drawn from different civil society organisations, youth groups and other concerned citizens.
The protest came a day after a former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, joined similar demonstrations at the National Assembly, adding his voice to calls for a more credible and transparent electoral process.
While many Nigerians and civil society actors continue to urge the National Assembly to make real-time electronic transmission of results compulsory, some lawmakers have maintained that the provision should remain discretionary, citing logistical challenges and infrastructural limitations across parts of the country.
Speaking to newsmen, Amaechi alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is opposed to electronic transmission of election results because it fears losing elections.
“I believe that the opposition parties should come out —PDP, ADC, everybody should be out—to protest against the attempt of one party,” Amaechi said.
“If we come out, and they say the opposition has hijacked (the protest), what is APC doing? Are they not hijacking? What are they afraid of? I thought they said they have 31 governors. Tinubu is not Jonathan. The only way a good politician will know he has done well is by the people.” he said
Comparing life under this administration and that of late Buhari’s administration which he served under, Amaechi said
‘’Is life easier now than when I was in the APC? Life is worse now than during the former President Buhari regime.”
