Our Reporter, Abuja
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the National Assembly to reverse the Senate’s recent position and pass an amendment to the Electoral Amendment Bill that would make electronic transmission of election results mandatory.
The call followed the adoption of a report by the NBA President, Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN, by the Association’s National Executive Council (NEC at its meeting held on February 5, 2026, in Maiduguri, Borno State.
In the report, Osigwe drew NEC’s attention to the Senate’s rejection of a proposed amendment to Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Amendment Bill. The rejected amendment sought to compel presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically transmit polling unit results in real time to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal immediately after Form EC8A had been duly signed, stamped, and countersigned by party agents.
Instead, the Senate resolved to retain the existing provision of the Electoral Act, which states that “the presiding officer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot, in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”
NEC expressed concern that the discretionary nature of the current wording weakens the legal basis for transparent and real-time transmission of results, leaving room for manipulation, ambiguity, and post-election disputes.
In adopting the President’s report, NEC resolved that the National Assembly must urgently revisit and pass the proposed amendment to Clause 60(3) to expressly mandate electronic transmission of results from polling units. The Council stressed that clear statutory compulsion, rather than discretionary phrasing, is essential to safeguarding electoral transparency, protecting the integrity of votes cast, and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
NEC further noted that credible elections remain the foundation of constitutional democracy, warning that continued resistance to enforceable electronic transmission provisions undermines democratic accountability. According to the Council, technology-driven transparency is no longer optional in a modern democracy, and Nigeria must align its electoral framework with global best practices.
The NBA therefore urged members of the National Assembly to demonstrate legislative responsibility and statesmanship by voting in favour of the proposed amendment compelling electronic transmission of election results. The Council reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to sustained engagement and advocacy to ensure that Nigeria’s electoral laws clearly reflect the will of the people as expressed at the ballot.
