Senate Explains Why Real-Time E-Transmission Cannot Be Mandatory in 2027 Elections

The Nigerian Senate has defended its decision to make electronic transmission of election results discretionary rather than mandatory in the ongoing amendment to the Electoral Bill 2026, insisting the move is grounded in data, infrastructure realities and legislative responsibility — not political sentiment.

The controversy centres on Clause 60(3) of the proposed amendment, which originally stated that a presiding officer “shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time.”

After debate, lawmakers retained electronic transmission but removed the mandatory “real time” requirement, introducing a caveat that where internet connectivity fails, Form EC8A — the official manual result sheet — will serve as the primary basis for collation.

Senate: Decision Based on Empirical Data

Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, clarified the chamber’s position in a statement issued through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, stressing that lawmaking “comes with huge obligations globally” and cannot be driven by emotion.

According to Bamidele, the Senate consulted stakeholders in the telecommunications and energy sectors before revising the clause. He said the decision reflects the “stark realities” of Nigeria’s communications and power infrastructure.

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Key Data Cited by the Senate

• Nigeria recorded about 70% broadband coverage in 2025, but actual internet penetration stood at roughly 44.53% of the population, according to figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission.
• The Speedtest Global Index ranked Nigeria 85th out of 105 countries in mobile network reliability and 129th out of 150 countries in fixed broadband reliability.
• In the power sector, approximately 85 million Nigerians lack access to grid electricity, representing about 43% of the population.
• Although generation capacity fluctuates between 12,000 and 13,500 megawatts, only around 4,500 megawatts are typically delivered nationwide.

Bamidele argued that making real-time electronic transmission mandatory under such conditions could create operational bottlenecks, trigger disputes and potentially destabilise the electoral process, particularly in rural communities with weak connectivity.

“By global standards, real-time electronic transmission of election results may not be practicable at this stage of our development,” he said.

What the Amendment Means

The revised clause does not abolish electronic transmission of results. Instead, it provides flexibility in implementation.

The Senate maintains that Section 62(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 already establishes a National Electronic Register of Election Results, and the amendment aims to reinforce the framework without creating a rigid mandate that may prove impractical nationwide.

Under the current system operated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC):

• Results are entered into Form EC8A at the polling unit.
• The presiding officer uses the BVAS device to upload a scanned copy to the IReV portal.
• The portal allows public viewing of polling unit results for transparency.

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The Senate’s revision would allow uploads to remain in place, but without invalidating results in areas where connectivity prevents immediate transmission.

Opposition and Public Backlash

The decision has sparked significant debate across Nigeria’s political landscape.

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi have criticised the move, arguing that weakening mandatory real-time uploads could undermine electoral transparency and public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Civil society groups and election observers warn that introducing a “network failure” clause may create loopholes that could be exploited during collation, particularly at ward and local government levels.

However, supporters of the Senate’s position argue that insisting on a strict real-time requirement without adequate infrastructure could lead to widespread technical failures, contested results and post-election instability.

House–Senate Differences and Next Steps

The House of Representatives is understood to favour retaining the mandatory real-time transmission language, setting the stage for a conference committee to harmonise both versions of the bill.

The final wording of Clause 60(3) will likely shape Nigeria’s electoral governance framework heading into 2027 and determine whether real-time electronic transmission becomes a statutory obligation or remains subject to operational discretion.

As debates intensify, the issue has become a defining test of Nigeria’s commitment to electoral reform — balancing technological ambition with infrastructural reality.

Senate Explains Why Real-Time E-Transmission Cannot Be Mandatory in 2027 Elections