Nigeria’s National Assembly is facing intense public backlash over proposed changes to the Electoral Act that critics argue would undermine real-time electronic transmission of election results ahead of the 2027 polls.
The Senate has called an emergency plenary session for Tuesday, February 10, following days of escalating street protests and growing accusations that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is systematically dismantling institutional checks on the executive.
Analysts and opposition voices warn that the moves are part of a broader effort by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consolidate power, pushing dissenting voices out of the chamber and onto the streets.
The controversy centres on the Senate’s recent decision to remove mandatory “real-time” electronic transmission of polling unit results to INEC’s IReV portal, replacing it with discretionary provisions that allow manual alternatives in cases of technical or security failures.
Critics, including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi—who both joined protests at the National Assembly—argue the change opens the door to result manipulation and reverses gains made in electoral transparency since 2023.
Protesters have demanded the retention of mandatory live transmission, warning that weakening the provision risks a repeat of disputed outcomes seen in previous elections.
The Senate insists the amendment balances technological advancement with Nigeria’s practical realities—such as network failures, grid collapses, and insecurity in remote areas—and does not abolish electronic transmission entirely.
A 12-member Senate conference committee, chaired by Senator Simon Lalong, has been tasked with harmonising the Senate’s version with the House of Representatives’ stronger position on real-time transmission. Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the committee to conclude swiftly, aiming for presidential assent by the end of February.
The row has exposed deepening tensions between the executive and opposition forces, with analysts describing the National Assembly’s actions as a shift toward executive dominance.
Public protests continue outside the National Assembly, with demonstrators vowing sustained pressure until mandatory real-time transmission is restored.
The coming days will determine whether the harmonised bill strengthens or weakens Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of 2027.
