Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Senate President David Mark have expressed differing views on the Senate’s approach to electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026.
The disagreement comes after the Senate removed the term “real time” from the clause on electronic transmission, a decision that has drawn criticism from opposition parties and civil society organizations.
Akpabio: Real-time requirement may invalidate results
Speaking in Abuja during the launch of The Burden of Legislators in Nigeria, a book by former senator Effiong Bob, Akpabio said the amendment aims to prevent potential legal and logistical problems.
He noted that insisting on real-time transmission could lead to disputes in areas affected by poor network coverage, insecurity, or power outages. Akpabio clarified that the change does not ban electronic transmission but gives the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the flexibility to decide the timing and method of result transmission based on circumstances.
He added that rigid wording could risk invalidating election results if transmission delays occur due to factors outside the control of electoral officials.
Mark: Lawmakers should not dictate INEC operations
In response, David Mark argued that lawmakers should not pre-empt INEC’s operational decisions. He stated that it is INEC’s responsibility — not the legislature’s — to determine whether real-time electronic transmission is practical.
Mark emphasized that public opinion favors electronic transmission and cautioned that excessive legislative caution could undermine electoral transparency. He suggested that if INEC cannot manage real-time transmission, it should openly communicate its limitations rather than have them embedded in law.
