Abuja — The Nigerian Senate has reaffirmed its support for the electronic transmission of election results, dismissing reports suggesting that lawmakers had reversed the policy during deliberations on amendments to the Electoral Act.
Several senators clarified that the upper chamber approved a modified provision that allows results to be transmitted electronically from polling units, while retaining the traditional Form EC8A as a fallback option in areas where technical or network challenges make real-time transmission impracticable.
Speaking on the controversy, lawmakers explained that electronic transmission of results should not be confused with electronic voting. According to them, votes will continue to be cast manually, while technology is deployed strictly to enhance transparency and speed in the collation and publication of results.
Senate leaders stressed that the amendment aligns with existing electoral practices overseen by the Independent National Electoral Commission, including the use of the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for uploading polling unit outcomes.
Addressing public concerns, senators noted that the chamber never rejected electronic transmission outright. Instead, it opted for a flexible framework that recognises Nigeria’s uneven digital infrastructure while safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other principal officers urged the public to disregard what they described as misleading interpretations of legislative proceedings, insisting that the Senate remains committed to reforms that promote credible, transparent, and peaceful elections.
With harmonisation ongoing between both chambers of the National Assembly, lawmakers expressed confidence that the final version of the Electoral Act amendment will strengthen public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections.