Senate passes Electoral Act amendment bill after clash over e-transmission

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following heated debates and a tense standoff over provisions relating to the electronic transmission of election results.

The controversy centred on Clause 60 of the bill, which addresses procedures for transmitting election results. Proceedings became rowdy after Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe demanded a formal division on Clause 60(3), challenging a provision that allows manual transmission of results if electronic transmission fails.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio initially stated that he believed the demand had already been withdrawn, but opposition lawmakers objected, insisting that the matter required reconsideration.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin cited Senate rules to argue that reopening the clause was out of order, triggering further tension in the chamber.

Despite the protests, Abaribe pushed forward, seeking to remove the safeguard that permits manual transmission when electronic systems fail, arguing that relying on manual processes could undermine electoral transparency.

When the Senate conducted a formal vote, 55 senators supported retaining the provision, while 15 opposed it. The outcome ensured that manual transmission remains an alternative if electronic transmission cannot be completed.

Bill reconsidered amid concerns over election timing, legal inconsistencies

Earlier in the session, lawmakers had temporarily stalled proceedings to reconsider parts of the bill after concerns were raised about technical inconsistencies and the timing of future elections.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved a motion to rescind the earlier version of the bill, explaining that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s planned timeline for the 2027 general elections raised legal and logistical concerns.

According to lawmakers, the proposed election schedule could conflict with provisions in the law requiring elections to be conducted at least 360 days before the expiration of current officeholders’ tenure.

There were also concerns that election dates falling within the Ramadan period could affect voter turnout, logistics, and overall participation, particularly in Muslim-majority areas.

In addition to the timing issue, senators identified several technical discrepancies across multiple clauses of the bill, including errors in cross-referencing, numbering, and internal consistency.

These issues affected key sections such as Clauses 6, 9, 10, 22, 23, 28, 29, 32, 42, 47, 51, 60, and others, prompting lawmakers to return the bill to the Committee of the Whole for detailed review before final passage.

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Following deliberations and revisions, the Senate proceeded to approve the amended version of the legislation.

The passage of the bill marks a significant step in Nigeria’s electoral reform process, particularly as debates over electronic transmission of results continue to shape discussions on transparency, credibility, and trust in the country’s election system ahead of the 2027 general elections.