The Nigerian Senate has approved the electronic transmission of election results from polling units, marking a significant step toward improving transparency and credibility in the country’s electoral process.
Newsonspot reports that the approval followed a review of controversial sections of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill after widespread criticism from civil society groups, political stakeholders, election observers, and the general public.
Under the new decision, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is empowered to electronically transmit polling unit results to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV). However, lawmakers retained the manually signed result sheet, Form EC8A, as a backup option in cases where electronic transmission is not possible or fails due to technical challenges.
The Senate explained that the hybrid approach is designed to balance technological innovation with Nigeria’s infrastructural realities, especially in regions with limited internet connectivity.
During plenary, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio noted that electronic transmission would enhance transparency and reduce result manipulation, while the manual system would ensure elections are not disrupted by technical issues.
The move represents a reversal of an earlier position that had restricted INEC’s powers on result transmission, which previously sparked nationwide outrage and raised concerns about the integrity of future elections.
Following the Senate’s approval, the amendment bill will be harmonised with the version passed by the House of Representatives before being forwarded to the President for assent.
Observers believe the decision, if fully implemented, could significantly boost public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of future elections.
