The Nigerian Senate has dismissed widespread reports suggesting that it rejected the electronic transmission of election results during deliberations on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, insisting that such claims are misleading and inaccurate.

Akahi News learnt that the clarification was issued by Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, shortly after the upper chamber passed the bill following a marathon legislative session that lasted over four hours on the Senate floor.

Confusion Over Clause 60 Amendment

According to Akahi News, controversy erupted after lawmakers spent hours considering a proposed amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill. The session, which began around 2:00 pm and ended at approximately 6:26 pm, triggered intense speculation on social media, with claims that the Senate had voted against mandatory electronic transmission of election results.

Some reports alleged that senators rejected a proposal that would have compelled presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit polling unit results electronically to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal in real time, immediately after signing and stamping result sheets.

Instead, the Senate was said to have retained the existing wording of the Electoral Act, which provides 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.”

Akpabio: Senate Did Not Reject Electronic Transmission

Reacting to the reports, Akpabio strongly refuted the narrative, stressing that electronic transmission of results remains firmly embedded in the law.

“Distinguished colleagues, the social media is already awash with reports that the Senate has literally rejected electronic transmission of results. That is not true,” Akpabio said on the Senate floor.

Akahi News gathered that the Senate President explained that lawmakers merely retained the existing provision that already allows for electronic transmission, noting that the same framework was applied during the 2022 electoral cycle.

“What we did was to retain the electronic transmission which has been in the Act and was used in 2022,” he stated. “This Senate under my watch has not rejected the electronic transmission of results.”

Akpabio further urged Nigerians not to be swayed by what he described as deliberate or careless misinterpretation of the Senate’s actions, adding that official records of proceedings remain available for verification.

‘We Cannot Afford to Go Backwards’

Emphasising the Senate’s commitment to electoral progress, Akpabio noted that maintaining provisions for electronic transmission aligns with democratic development and personal political interest.

“It is in my interest as a participant in the next election for such to be done,” he said, adding that “we cannot afford to be going backwards.”

According to Akahi News, the Senate President maintained that the retained provision already makes allowance for electronic transmission of results, countering claims that lawmakers weakened the law.

A Lingering Debate in Nigeria’s Electoral Reforms

The issue of electronic transmission of election results has remained one of the most sensitive aspects of Nigeria’s electoral reforms, particularly since the 2023 general elections. Civil society organisations, election observers, and opposition parties have continued to advocate for clearer and more explicit legal provisions to enhance transparency, curb manipulation, and boost public confidence in the electoral process.

Akahi News observed that Akpabio’s intervention appears aimed at calming public anxiety as the National Assembly continues work on electoral amendments ahead of future elections.

As debates around electoral credibility persist, Nigerians are expected to closely monitor further legislative actions to determine whether reforms will strengthen trust in the nation’s democratic process.

Akahi News www.akahinews.org