February 17, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
Nigeria’s Senate has passed the long-awaited Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, following stormy debates in Abuja on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, centring on how election results should be transmitted an issue that has stirred public controversy and protests nationwide.
The passage came after a fraught legislative process in which senators clashed sharply over Clause 60, the section of the bill that governs the electronic transmission of results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal a reform widely seen as critical to transparent election outcomes but also divisive in legal wording and practice.
Rowdy Debate Over Electronic Transmission
At the heart of the tensions was opposition both within the Senate chamber and among civil society groups to language that some argue weakens the mandatory nature of electronic results transmission. Critics pointed out that “real-time” specifying immediate uploads while party agents remain present was removed in the Senate’s version, leaving room for delayed uploads or reliance on manual forms when network issues arise.
Opposition senators, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, objected strongly to a proviso allowing manual Form EC8A sheets to be used when electronic transmission fails, arguing it undermines the credibility and transparency of the electoral process and could open the door to manipulation. A call for a recorded division vote was ultimately held, with the majority backing the Senate’s wording.
What the Amendment Means
Under the final version passed, presiding officers are required to electronically transmit results to iReV after results forms are signed and stamped, but the law also includes a clause stating that where transmission fails due to communication issues, the manual paper result will be treated as the primary basis for collation and declaration. This compromise seeks to balance technological aspiration with practical realities of network infrastructure in remote areas, but has generated heated debate.
Reactions and Broader Debate
The bill’s passage sparked mixed reactions. Supporters say the legislation advances Nigeria’s electoral framework and reflects legislative oversight ahead of the 2027 general elections, but critics argue that the Senate’s version dilutes transparency safeguards by preserving reliance on manual results under certain conditions.
Civil society organisations, youth groups and some labour bodies have in recent weeks demonstrated publicly, demanding a clearer mandate for mandatory, real-time electronic transmission — similar to proposals that were initially part of the House of Representatives’ version of the bill — and warning the clause as passed may not fully safeguard electoral integrity.
Next Steps
The Electoral Act Amendment Bill will now be harmonised between the Senate and the House of Representatives before it is sent to President Bola Tinubu for assent into law. The ongoing debates over results transmission are likely to continue as stakeholders watch how the final wording shapes Nigeria’s electoral process in the lead-up to the 2027 polls.