By James
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By Amah
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Cracks widened in the Senate yesterday as 13 opposition senators openly challenged reports that the upper chamber had rejected mandatory electronic transmission of election results during the passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026.
As public outrage mounted over claims that real-time electronic transmission had been dropped, the senators insisted the issue remained unresolved, stressing that a majority of lawmakers supported the provision and that the Senate had yet to complete the final procedural steps.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the lawmakers, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South), said the Senate did not reconvene to formally adopt the votes and proceedings of Wednesday’s plenary, making reports of a rejection premature.
They explained that the disputed provision, Clause 60(3), mandates the real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing (IREV) portal after the prescribed forms have been duly signed and endorsed.
Confusion followed Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s announcement during clause-by-clause consideration that Clause 60 was adopted “as amended,” a phrasing that triggered widespread reports that mandatory electronic transmission had been jettisoned.
Rejecting that interpretation, Abaribe said the Senate did not vote against electronic transmission of results, noting that the provision had broad bipartisan backing.
“To put the record straight, the Senate did not reject electronic transmission of results,” he said. “What was passed, and what the Senate President clarified, is electronic transmission of election results.”
He assured Nigerians that the lawmakers would monitor the bill closely to ensure the retention of Clause 60(3) until it is transmitted for presidential assent.
The senators said joint committees of the Senate and House of Representatives had earlier reached a consensus in favour of electronic transmission during multiple retreats on the amendment bill, and that the agreement was reflected in the reports submitted to both chambers.
Other senators at the briefing included Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central), Ireti Kingibe (ADC, FCT), Austin Akobundu (PDP, Abia Central), Peter Jiya (PDP, Niger South), Binos Yaroe (PDP, Adamawa South), Aminu Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto South), Tony Nwoye (LP, Anambra North), Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central), and Mohammed Onawo (ADC, Nasarawa South).
Meanwhile, in a joint statement, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) described the development as retrogressive and accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of seeking to preserve loopholes in the electoral system.
They urged the conference committee to adopt the House of Representatives’ position on mandatory real-time electronic transmission, describing the ongoing amendment process as a critical opportunity to strengthen transparency and restore trust in Nigeria’s elections.
