Senate Debunks Claims of Scrapping Electronic Transmission of Election Results
In a significant clarification, the Nigerian Senate has officially refuted widespread claims that it voted against the electronic transmission of election results during its consideration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill. Senate President Godswill Akpabio addressed the matter directly, emphasizing that electronic transmission remains firmly embedded within Nigeria's electoral framework.
Extended Plenary Session and Controversial Debate
The clarification came shortly after the upper legislative chamber passed the bill following an extended plenary session that lasted over four hours. Debate on the controversial amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3 began in the afternoon and continued into the evening, generating intense speculation across social media platforms regarding the outcome.
Reports circulating online had suggested that lawmakers rejected a proposal that would mandate presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission to transmit polling unit results electronically to the INEC Result Viewing portal in real time after signing and stamping result forms. Instead, these reports claimed the Senate retained an existing provision that allows results to be transmitted in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.
Akpabio's Direct Rebuttal of Inaccurate Interpretations
Senate President Akpabio dismissed these interpretations as fundamentally inaccurate, insisting that electronic transmission of results was not removed from the law. Addressing his colleagues in the chamber, he stated unequivocally that social media reports claiming the Senate rejected electronic transmission were completely false.
He explained that the chamber merely retained provisions that already existed in the law and were successfully applied during the 2022 elections. This Senate has not rejected electronic transmission of results, Akpabio declared, adding that the amendment did not roll back any existing electoral gains. He urged lawmakers and the general public not to be misled by online narratives, noting that official voting records and legislative proceedings are available for public verification.
Commitment to Credible Electoral Processes
Akpabio further emphasized that maintaining electronic transmission aligns with the Senate's ongoing commitment to credible elections. He warned against any interpretation that suggests a regression in Nigeria's electoral process, stating that his intervention was necessary to calm public concerns and correct what he described as a misrepresentation of the chamber's decision.
The Senate president pointed out that lawmakers continue their work on electoral reforms ahead of future elections, with electronic transmission of results remaining one of the most contentious issues in Nigeria's electoral reform discussions. This is particularly true following the 2023 general elections, during which civil society groups and opposition parties have consistently called for clearer legal provisions to enhance transparency and boost public confidence in the electoral system.
Akpabio's clarification serves as an important reminder of the Senate's position on this critical electoral matter, ensuring that public discourse remains informed by factual legislative developments rather than speculative online narratives.
