Senate Approves Transmission of Election Results, What This Means in 10 Simple Terms

Senate Approves Electronic Transmission of Election Results, What This Means in 10 Simple Terms

The Nigerian Senate has approved an amended provision of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill allowing the electronic transmission of polling unit results to INEC’s IReV portal.

Under the newly adopted Clause 60(3), presiding officers are mandated to upload election results and accredited voter figures electronically. However, where network or communication challenges prevent transmission, manual result sheets Form EC8A will remain the official document for collation and verification.

The amendment was adopted during an emergency plenary session after the Senate revisited and modified an earlier version of the clause. Unlike the House of Representatives’ draft, the Senate’s version does not enforce strict real-time transmission, instead allowing electronic uploads based on INEC’s operational guidelines.

The Senate also approved a 12-member conference committee to align with the House ahead of harmonization talks. The bill will now proceed to the next stage of the legislative process.

What This Means in 10 Simple Terms

1. Election results will now be uploaded online from polling units.
2. INEC’s IReV portal remains the official online platform.
3. Accredited voter numbers must also be uploaded.
4. If the internet fails, manual results will still count.
5. Physical Form EC8A remains legally valid.
6. The system is no longer strictly real-time.
7. INEC decides how and when uploads happen.
8. Electronic results support transparency but do not fully replace manual records.
9. Courts can still rely on physical result sheets.
10. It is a compromise between technology and reality on ground.

What to Expect Next

• Harmonisation Talks: The Senate and House versions will be merged by the conference committee.
• Final Passage: A unified Electoral Act Amendment Bill will be passed by both chambers.
• Presidential Assent: The bill will be sent to President Tinubu for signing.
• INEC Guidelines: INEC will release detailed rules on how electronic transmission will work.
• 2027 Elections Impact: The amendment will guide result transmission in future elections if signed into law.

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