2026 Electoral Bill: Senate Explains Limits of IReV in Real-Time Transmission

The Nigerian Senate has declared that genuine real-time transmission of election results can only be achieved if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) adopts a full e-voting system, clarifying ongoing debates surrounding the review of the 2026 Electoral Bill.

Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 2026 Electoral Bill, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, made the clarification during an interview on Arise News Channel on Thursday.

According to him, the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) was never designed to function as an electronic voting platform and cannot deliver instant transmission of votes under Nigeria’s current manual voting structure.

IReV Is Not an E-Voting Platform

Adegbonmire explained that IReV is strictly a results publication portal. He stressed that ballot papers are thumb-printed and counted manually at polling units before results are entered into Form EC8A by the presiding officer.

“It is the Form EC8A that has been filled manually and will be transmitted to IReV,” he said, adding that changing the terminology in the Electoral Bill from “transmit” to “upload” would not alter the process.

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The senator dismissed claims that the Senate intends to stop INEC from using IReV in the 2027 general elections, describing such reports as misinformation.

“The Senate never said INEC should not use IReV for the 2027 elections. IReV is software developed by INEC to publicise results already declared at polling units. It is not an e-voting platform,” he stated.

Manual Voting Still Determines Results

Under Nigeria’s current electoral framework, voters cast ballots manually, and votes are counted by hand at polling units. The presiding officer then records the figures in Form EC8A, which must be signed and countersigned by party agents before being uploaded to IReV.

Adegbonmire emphasised that electronic transmission begins only after manual collation is completed.

“When you have not complied with the proper filling of Form EC8A, you cannot transfer, transmit or upload it,” he said.

He further clarified that electronic transmission does not affect the sanctity of voting, since vote casting and counting remain manual.

Why E-Voting Is Key to Real-Time Results

The senator argued that for true real-time election result transmission, Nigeria would need a system where votes are cast, counted, and automatically transmitted electronically from polling units to a central server — a process only achievable through a legally backed electronic voting system.

Although INEC introduced technology such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and IReV during the 2023 general elections, vote counting is still conducted manually under the Electoral Act 2022.

The ongoing review of the 2026 Electoral Bill has therefore reignited national debate over broader electoral reforms, digital infrastructure upgrades, and the possibility of transitioning to e-voting in Nigeria ahead of future elections.

Lawmakers say adopting e-voting would require substantial legal amendments, investment in secure digital infrastructure, cybersecurity protections, and extensive voter education.

Until then, the Senate maintains that real-time transmission, in the strictest sense, remains unattainable under the present manual voting system.

2026 Electoral Bill: Senate Explains Limits of IReV in Real-Time Transmission

MPAC Hails Supreme Court Verdict Affirming Muslim Students’ Right to Worship at RSU

Lagos, February 12, 2026 — The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria, has welcomed the Supreme Court judgment affirming the constitutional right of Muslim students at Rivers State University (RSU) to worship freely on campus, describing the ruling as a landmark victory for justice and religious freedom.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, MPAC said the apex court’s decision, which dismissed RSU’s appeal, goes beyond a legal triumph for the affected students and represents “a victory for the Constitution, conscience, and justice.”

“For over a decade, Muslim students at Rivers State University were denied a right that should never have been contested — the right to pray,” the organisation said. “Rather than resort to disorder, the students chose the path of law, patience, and principled resistance.”

MPAC commended the students for pursuing redress through constitutional means and praised the judiciary at all levels for upholding fundamental rights guaranteed under Nigerian law. The group said the judgment sends a clear message that no institution or authority can override citizens’ constitutional freedoms.

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The organisation called on RSU authorities to comply fully and immediately with the Supreme Court ruling. It warned that any delay or refusal to implement the judgment would amount to contempt for the rule of law and an affront to constitutional order.

MPAC further urged the university to end what it described as “persecution, exclusion, and hostility” toward Muslim students, attributing such actions to institutional bias and Islamophobic attitudes.

“A university must be a sanctuary of knowledge, not a theatre of discrimination,” the statement read.

Beyond Rivers State, MPAC said the ruling carries wider implications for Muslim minority communities in the South-East and South-South regions, where it claimed some students and workers continue to face restrictions on their religious practices. The group expressed hope that the judgment would usher in a new era of respect for religious rights across the country.

“Religious freedom is not a concession or a favour. It is a constitutional right,” MPAC stated, adding that Nigeria cannot build unity or democracy while permitting discrimination based on faith.

The statement was signed by Disu Kamor, Executive Chairman of MPAC, who reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to defending constitutional values and protecting the dignity of all Nigerians regardless of religion.

MPAC Hails Supreme Court Verdict Affirming Muslim Students’ Right to Worship at RSU

Nigerian Man Appeals for Repatriation After Alleged Forced Enlistment in Russian Military

A Nigerian citizen, Abubakar Adamu, has appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria for urgent repatriation after alleging that he was deceived into joining the Russian military following a trip to Moscow for what he believed was a civilian job opportunity.

According to his legal representatives, Adamu travelled to Russia on a tourist visa issued by the Russian Embassy in Abuja, after being promised employment as a civilian security guard. However, upon arrival in Moscow, his international passport and travel documents were allegedly confiscated, and he was reportedly compelled to sign enlistment documents written entirely in Russian without the assistance of an interpreter.

His lawyers stated that he later discovered the documents had effectively enrolled him into the Russian Armed Forces, despite having no intention of joining the military. In a formal petition submitted to Nigerian authorities, the legal team invoked the legal doctrine of Non Est Factum, arguing that Adamu did not understand the nature or implications of the contract he signed.

They further alleged fundamental misrepresentation, claiming he was misled into military service under false pretences. The petition also raised concerns about possible violations of international law, including forced conscription, coercion, and deprivation of personal liberty.

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Adamu is reportedly being held at a Russian military camp and has refused deployment to combat zones in Ukraine, where Russia has been engaged in ongoing military operations since 2022. His lawyers have demanded that Russian authorities immediately halt any deployment process, return his seized documents, and facilitate his safe return to Nigeria.

The case comes amid growing international reports that African nationals are being recruited into the Russian military under questionable circumstances. A previous investigative report by CNN revealed that citizens from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and other African countries were allegedly lured with promises of high salaries, signing bonuses, and pathways to Russian citizenship.

According to the investigation, many recruits were reportedly given minimal training and deployed to combat zones in Ukraine, with allegations of coercion, racial abuse, and inhumane treatment emerging from multiple testimonies.

Last year, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, disclosed that more than 1,400 citizens from 36 African countries were fighting for Russia in Ukraine, with some reportedly captured as prisoners of war. Similarly, Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs confirmed that over 200 Kenyan nationals might have been drawn into the conflict through deceptive online recruitment schemes.

The precise number of Nigerians involved or killed in the conflict remains unclear, and Russian authorities have not officially confirmed casualties among foreign recruits.

Responding to earlier allegations, Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Andrey Podyelyshev, denied that the recruitment of Nigerians into the war effort was state-sponsored. He stated at a press conference in Abuja that there is no official government programme to recruit Nigerians to fight in Ukraine, adding that any illegal actors involved would be operating independently of the Russian state.

As of the time of filing this report, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue a formal statement on Adamu’s case. However, civil society organisations and family members are urging swift diplomatic engagement to secure the release and repatriation of Nigerians allegedly trapped in the Russia–Ukraine conflict.

Adamu’s case has reignited concerns about the vulnerability of African job seekers to international recruitment scams, particularly in regions affected by armed conflict.

Nigerian Man Appeals for Repatriation After Alleged Forced Enlistment in Russian Military