The Senate on Tuesday reversed its earlier position and approved the electronic transmission of election results, a significant policy shift that followed intense public scrutiny and political pressure, while retaining manual collation as a safeguard.
The decision came during the clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral Act amendment, where lawmakers reconsidered an earlier provision that had restricted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manual transmission. The upper chamber eventually adopted a compromise allowing the electoral body to electronically transmit results in real time, with manual collation maintained as a backup option.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, who presented the revised position, explained that the adjustment was aimed at strengthening transparency and public confidence in the electoral process while ensuring operational flexibility for the commission.
The Senate’s U-turn followed widespread criticism from civil society organisations, opposition parties, and election observers who warned that limiting electronic transmission could undermine the credibility of future elections. Electronic transmission has been widely regarded as a key reform to curb manipulation during result collation.
During plenary, several lawmakers emphasised the need to align the law with technological realities and the expectations of Nigerians for a more transparent process. The Senate ultimately agreed that INEC should have the authority to deploy electronic transmission where feasible, while retaining manual documentation to address connectivity challenges in remote areas.
The amendment now empowers the electoral commission to transmit results electronically from polling units and maintain physical result sheets as an official backup, a move lawmakers said would ensure both transparency and operational resilience.
The development marks a major legislative shift after the Senate had earlier voted to prioritise manual transmission, a decision that sparked national debate and drew criticism across political divides. Observers say the latest move restores a key reform that played a significant role in improving transparency in recent electoral cycles.
With both electronic transmission and manual collation now embedded in the framework, attention will turn to the House of Representatives and the harmonisation process before the amendment can be transmitted for presidential assent.
