The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have intensified calls for the adoption of real-time electronic transmission of election results, as the Senate prepares to reconvene to consider the Electoral Act 2022 Amendment Bill.
A notice issued by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, announced that lawmakers will reconvene on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, raising expectations among civil society groups and opposition parties that contentious provisions of the Bill could be revisited.
However, the Senate has so far retained the provision allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) discretion over the mode of result transmission, effectively ruling out mandatory real-time electronic transmission from polling units.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from labour unions and legal professionals who insist that technology-backed transparency is essential for credible elections ahead of 2027.
Senate Stands Its Ground
Despite mounting pressure, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said at the weekend that there would be no reversal of the chamber’s position on result transmission.
The Senate had passed the amendment Bill last week before proceeding on recess to allow committees to work on the 2026 Budget, with the aim of meeting the proposed March 19 passage deadline.
According to Odo, the emergency plenary sitting is primarily to approve proceedings from the earlier session on the Bill, a step required before harmonisation with the version passed by the House of Representatives.
A conference committee headed by Senator Simon Lalong has already been constituted to work with the House committee led by Adebayo Balogun. The harmonisation process will address areas of disagreement, including result transmission, before the Bill is forwarded to the President for assent.
NLC Warns of Mass Action
Reacting to the Senate’s stance, the NLC warned that the country risks mass protests and possible election boycotts if clarity is not provided on electronic transmission of results.
In a statement, NLC President Joe Ajaero accused the Senate of undermining public confidence in the electoral process through what he described as “confusion and contradictory positions.”
“The Nigerian people deserve a transparent electoral process where votes are not only counted but seen to be counted,” Ajaero said, adding that the road to the 2027 elections must be built on certainty, not ambiguity.
The NLC urged the Senate to issue a clear and unambiguous position on whether electronic transmission would be mandatory.
NBA Pushes for Mandatory Electronic Transmission
Similarly, the NBA renewed its call for compulsory electronic transmission of polling unit results, warning that discretionary provisions could weaken transparency and fuel post-election disputes.
The position followed the adoption of a report presented by NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) at the association’s National Executive Council meeting in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The report criticised the Senate’s rejection of a proposed amendment to Clause 60(3) of the Bill, which sought to mandate presiding officers to transmit results electronically in real time to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal immediately after signing Form EC8A.
According to the NBA, leaving result transmission to discretion creates room for manipulation and undermines public trust.
“Technology-backed transparency is no longer optional in modern democracies,” the association said, urging lawmakers to align Nigeria’s electoral laws with global best practices.
As the Senate reconvenes, attention will remain firmly fixed on whether lawmakers will bow to public pressure or retain a discretionary framework that critics say could weaken the credibility of future elections.
Electoral Act Amendment: NBA, NLC Demand Real-Time Result Transmission as Senate Reconvenes
