Senate President Godswill Akpabio has clarified that the Senate did not reject electronic transmission of election results but merely retained the provision as contained in the Electoral Act 2022.

The clarification follows public reactions after the Senate, on February 4, declined a proposal seeking to make real-time electronic transmission of results mandatory during consideration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026.

While deliberating on the bill, the upper chamber maintained the existing clause in the 2022 law, which permits electronic transmission of results but does not make real-time transmission compulsory. Under the current framework, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is allowed to transmit results electronically, but manual collation remains legally valid, and real-time electronic transfer is not mandatory.

The proposed amendment had sought to compel real-time electronic transmission of results and link the process directly to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV). The Senate’s decision, however, triggered public backlash and renewed concerns over transparency and the credibility of the electoral process.

Speaking in Abuja at the unveiling of a book titled The Burden of Legislators in Nigeria by former Senator Effiong Bob, Akpabio insisted that electronic transmission remains permissible under the law and that the only modification was the removal of the phrase “real time.”

“I must state clearly, without ambiguity, that the Senate has not removed any means of transmission,” he said.

Akpabio explained that the decision to remove “real time” was intended to avoid legal complications that could arise from network failures, technical glitches, or security challenges that may hinder immediate electronic transmission.

According to him, insisting on real-time transmission could expose the electoral process to unnecessary litigation if results cannot be uploaded instantly due to circumstances beyond the control of election officials.

He added that in areas with poor network coverage or security concerns, strict real-time requirements could potentially invalidate otherwise credible election outcomes.

Akpabio said the Senate’s decision was designed to give INEC the flexibility to determine the most appropriate and practicable mode of transmitting election results, based on prevailing conditions during elections, while still allowing the use of electronic transmission where feasible. (Guardian)