The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday amended the Electoral Act, revising Section 60 to mandate electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IREV), while allowing manual result sheets to serve as the primary source if electronic transmission fails.
The amendment, adopted during plenary proceedings presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, requires presiding officers at polling units to electronically transmit results to the IREV portal once voting is completed.
However, the revised provision creates a significant loophole: in cases of communication or network failure, the manually signed Form EC8A will take precedence as the primary basis for collation and declaration of results.
Akpabio, addressing lawmakers, stressed that those opposing the amendment should formally move a counter motion. “It’s very simple. If you disagree with him, move your counter motion. So, if you agree with him, you agree with me when I put the votes,” he said.
Reading the amended clause, he explained: “The presiding officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IREV portal after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the presiding officer and/or countersigned by candidates or polling agents, where available. If electronic transmission fails due to network or other issues, Form EC8A shall become the primary source of collation and declaration of results.”
The amendment has sparked concerns among civil society groups and opposition figures, who warn that allowing manual results to override electronic transmission could compromise transparency and open the process to manipulation, especially in areas with poor network coverage.
During the plenary, Akpabio also announced the constitution of a 12-member Senate delegation to harmonise differences with the House of Representatives on the Electoral Act amendments. The committee’s expanded size matches the House delegation, and the Senate expects the harmonised bill to be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for signing within February.
The amendment has triggered public backlash, street protests, and criticism from opposition figures. Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), joined demonstrators under the #OccupyNASS campaign at the National Assembly in Abuja. Sowore warned against any attack on peaceful protesters and accused the political elite of manipulating electoral laws to favour rigging.
He stated, “These people cannot win in free and fair elections. The public has a duty to demand processes that guarantee free, legal and transparent elections,” highlighting the need for electoral reforms that prevent manipulation and ensure credibility.
