Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Prominent regional organisations, professional bodies and legal experts have renewed calls for the inclusion of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, following the Senate’s rejection of the provision.
Leading the push are the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo; the Middle Belt Forum; the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF); the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE); and constitutional lawyer, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN.
Operating under the umbrella of the Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum (SMBLF), the groups on Monday demanded the retention of Clause 60 of the proposed 2026 Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which was earlier passed by the House of Representatives.
In a joint statement signed by SMBLF leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan; President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Bitrus Pogu; President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Senator John Azuta-Mbata; and PANDEF National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, the forum warned that removing the clause would seriously undermine Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
The group described credible elections as the bedrock of democracy and cited the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as a tested platform for real-time monitoring of polling unit results, capable of reducing manipulation and post-election disputes.
It expressed concern over reports that the Senate altered the final draft of the bill by deleting the clause on mandatory electronic transmission, describing the move as “unacceptable in a democratic legislature.”
“The law must be clear, firm and mandatory,” the statement said, recalling that during the 2023 presidential election litigation, the Supreme Court relied on Section 60(5) of the Electoral Act 2022, which made electronic transmission optional—a loophole the group said must now be closed.
Similarly, the Nigerian Guild of Editors faulted the Senate’s position, warning that making electronic transmission optional could weaken public trust in the electoral process and worsen voter apathy.
In a statement signed by its President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the NGE urged the National Assembly to harmonise the Senate’s position with that of the House of Representatives and approve mandatory, immediate transmission of results from polling units to INEC’s central servers and collation centres.
The guild said such a step would enhance transparency, accuracy and voter confidence, while reducing electoral fraud and post-election disputes.
Also weighing in, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, called on lawmakers to provide explicit statutory backing for real-time electronic transmission of results.
He attributed recurring election disputes to “persistent legal uncertainty,” noting that repeated amendments to the Electoral Act have failed to firmly anchor electronic transmission in law.
Agbakoba recalled that the Supreme Court ruled during the 2023 elections that the IReV portal lacked legal force because electronic transmission was not expressly provided for in the Electoral Act 2022.
According to him, the gap places an “insurmountable evidentiary burden” on election petitioners, fuels prolonged litigation and weakens democratic stability.
Citing the June 12, 1993 election as a benchmark for transparency, he advocated combining immediate verification of results at polling units with modern electronic tools to guarantee secure, efficient and verifiable elections.
“The current legislative process presents a historic opportunity for the National Assembly to resolve this fundamental issue ahead of the 2027 general elections,” Agbakoba said.
“Without this amendment, Nigeria risks repeating the cycle of disputed elections and eroded democratic credibility.”
The groups unanimously stressed that mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results is essential to safeguarding the will of the people, curbing electoral malpractice and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
