Author: Gist Correspondent

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the National Assembly to pass a proposed amendment to the Electoral Act that would make the electronic transmission of election results from polling units mandatory.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, the NBA said its National Executive Council (NEC) adopted a report presented by the association’s President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), urging lawmakers to approve the amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill.

The NEC, which met in Maiduguri, Borno State, on February 5, 2026, said the report underscored the urgent need to mandate electronic transmission of results as a means of strengthening transparency and restoring public confidence in the electoral process.

According to the NBA, the proposed amendment would require presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit polling unit results in real time to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal immediately after Form EC8A has been duly signed, stamped and countersigned by party agents.

The council criticised the Senate’s decision to retain the existing provision in the Electoral Act, which allows results to be transmitted “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission,” arguing that such wording weakens the legal framework for transparent elections and leaves room for ambiguity and manipulation.

The NBA warned that discretionary language in electoral laws undermines democratic accountability, stressing that clear statutory compulsion—rather than optional provisions—is essential to safeguarding the integrity of votes cast and ensuring credible elections.

“Credible elections are the bedrock of constitutional democracy,” the association said, urging lawmakers to demonstrate legislative responsibility and statesmanship by supporting the amendment that compels electronic transmission of results.

The NBA also reaffirmed its commitment to sustained advocacy and engagement to ensure that Nigeria’s electoral laws truly reflect the will of the electorate as expressed at the ballot box.

However, the Senate has dismissed claims that it removed provisions on electronic transmission of results. Senate President Godswill Akpabio described such reports as misleading, insisting that the 2022 Electoral Act still mandates presiding officers to transmit results electronically as prescribed by law.

“This is misleading. Electronic transmission has not been removed from the law. The provision under the 2022 Electoral Act remains in force, and presiding officers are still required to transmit results electronically,” Akpabio said.

He added that retaining the current wording provides legal and operational clarity while ensuring a secure and standardised electoral process.

The Senate Minority Caucus also maintained that lawmakers did not reject electronic transmission of results, noting that the Upper Chamber’s actions were aimed at safeguarding transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral system.