Senate Rejects Mandatory Electronic Result Transmission in Major Electoral Act Reform

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The Nigerian Senate has officially passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026, marking a pivotal step in the legal framework governing the upcoming 2027 general elections. However, the legislative session took a controversial turn on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, as lawmakers rejected a key proposal that would have mandated the real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units. 

This decision effectively maintains the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) discretionary power over result transmission, a move that has already reignited debates regarding transparency and the integrity of the voting process.

​During the intense clause-by-clause consideration, the Senate voted down an amendment to Clause 60(3) which sought to require presiding officers to electronically upload results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal immediately after the signing of Form EC8A. Instead, the upper chamber chose to retain the existing provision, which states that presiding officers shall transfer results "in a manner as prescribed by the Commission." Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified the decision, noting that the rejection does not eliminate electronic transmission but rather preserves the flexibility of the current law, which allows INEC to determine the best method based on technical feasibility.

​Beyond the transmission debate, the 2026 amendment bill introduced several other significant changes while blocking others. Notably, the Senate rejected a proposed 10-year jail term for individuals involved in the buying and selling of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), opting instead to maintain a two-year imprisonment term while increasing the associated fine from ₦2 million to ₦5 million. Other notable rejections included the proposal for electronically-generated voter IDs and mandatory early voting. On a more administrative front, the bill has shortened the election notice timeline to 180 days, ensuring a tighter window for pre-election activities. As the bill moves forward, its impact on public trust remains a central theme for civil society and political observers alike.