The Nigerian Senate has approved the use of electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV). However the lawmakers also allowed manual collation where technology fails.
The decision followed a fresh debate on a disputed section of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026 during Tuesday’s plenary.
Why the Senate Changed the Law
The amendment came through a motion by Senator Tahir Monguno of Borno North. He told the chamber that a review of Clause 60(3) showed gaps that could cause disputes during elections.
According to him, the law must protect transparency. At the same time, it must reflect Nigeria’s weak network coverage in many areas.
What the New Rule Allows
Under the amendment, presiding officers may upload results to the IReV portal after completing Form EC8A. The form must be signed and stamped first.
However, the law does not make electronic transmission compulsory. It also rules out real-time uploads.
Importantly, when network or communication problems occur, the manual EC8A form will serve as the main basis for result collation and declaration.
Support from the Senate Floor
Abba Moro, the Senate Minority Leader, seconded the motion. He said election laws must balance openness with reality.
In his view, the dual system will reduce confusion and limit post-election court battles.
Alternate View That Is Stirring Debate
Despite Senate support, critics argue that the decision weakens electoral transparency. They say allowing manual collation gives room for result manipulation.
Some civil society groups insist that Nigeria should move fully to mandatory electronic transmission, regardless of infrastructure gaps. According to them, anything less keeps the door open for electoral malpractice.
As a result, the amendment has already triggered strong reactions across political circles and social media.
Why This Decision Matters The Senate says the new rule protects elections from technical failure. Still, opponents believe it slows Nigeria’s move toward credible polls.
In the coming days, the debate is likely to grow louder.
