Nigerian Senate Approves Electronic Transmission of Election Results
The Nigerian Senate has taken a significant step toward electoral transparency by approving the electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) IReV portal. This decision came during a plenary session on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, marking a potential turning point in the country's electoral process.
Fifteen Senators Support Mandatory Real-Time Transmission
During the crucial voting session, fifteen senators stood and raised their hands in support of mandatory real-time transmission of election results. The lawmakers emphasized that Form EC8A would serve as a backup measure should electronic transmission encounter technical difficulties, ensuring a fail-safe mechanism remains in place.
Notably, no senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) voted in favor of the measure. The supporting lawmakers came exclusively from various opposition parties, highlighting the political divisions surrounding electoral reform in Nigeria.
Geopolitical Distribution of Supporting Senators
The voting pattern revealed interesting geographical and political distributions:
- South West geopolitical zone: 0 senators
- South East: 5 senators
- South South: 1 senator
- North Central: 4 senators
- North West: 2 senators
- North East: 3 senators
According to data from Statisense, the party breakdown of supporting senators includes:
- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): 9 senators
- African Democratic Congress (ADC): 3 senators
- All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA): 2 senators
- Labour Party (LP): 1 senator
List of Senators Who Voted for Electronic Transmission
The fifteen senators who supported mandatory real-time transmission of election results include:
- Enyinnaya Abaribe - ADC, representing Abia South
- Abdul Ningi - PDP, representing Bauchi Central
- Aminu Tambuwal - PDP, representing Sokoto South
- Ireti Kingibe - ADC, representing Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
- Seriake Dickson - PDP, representing Bayelsa West
- Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan - PDP, representing Kogi Central
- Mohammed Onawo Ogwoshi - ADC, representing Nasarawa South
- Tony Nwoye - Labour Party, representing Anambra North
- Victor Umeh - APGA, representing Anambra Central
- Emmanuel Nwachukwu - APGA, representing Anambra South
- Austin Akobundu - PDP, representing Abia Central
- Ibrahim Khalid Mustapha - PDP, representing Kaduna North
- Anthony Sikayo Yaro - PDP, representing Gombe South
- Peter Jiya - PDP, representing Niger South
- Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo - PDP, representing Gombe North
Public Reaction and Political Implications
Social media reactions to the Senate's decision have revealed mixed sentiments among Nigerians. Many users expressed disappointment that no APC senators supported the measure, while others praised the fifteen senators for their commitment to electoral transparency.
One social media user commented, "No APC senator on the list, and no senator from the South West too. We know the people who don't want the country to move forward."
Another user offered praise, stating, "Faces of men who fought for credible elections, history would be kind to them."
The debate highlights ongoing tensions between political parties regarding electoral reforms and transparency measures as Nigeria continues to refine its democratic processes.
Background and Context
This decision comes after previous Senate deliberations where compulsory electronic transmission methods were rejected. The current Electoral Act maintains that permanent voter cards remain the only accepted means of voter accreditation, making this approval of electronic results transmission a significant but partial step toward comprehensive electoral reform.
The Senate's approval represents a compromise position that allows for electronic transmission while maintaining paper-based backup systems, reflecting the ongoing balancing act between technological advancement and electoral security in Nigeria's political landscape.
