Senate Approves E-transmission Of Results, Keeps Manual Backup After Rowdy Session
The Senate on Tuesday approved electronic transmission of election results but retained manual collation as a fallback, voting 55–15 to keep the controversial proviso in Clause 60 of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2026.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC/Abia South) forced a division after reviving an attempt he dropped last week. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele defended his right to do so, while President Godswill Akpabio noted the earlier withdrawal had drawn social-media mockery. Deputy President Barau Jibrin called the move out of order, sparking heated exchanges and a brief confrontation involving Senator Sunday Karimi.
The chamber had rescinded its earlier passage of the bill and recommitted it following INEC’s announcement that the 2027 general elections would hold in February—raising concerns about conflicts with statutory timelines, Ramadan scheduling, and drafting errors across more than 20 clauses.
Under the amended Clause 60(3), polling-unit Form EC8A remains the primary legal document if electronic upload to INEC’s IReV portal fails; uploads are still required where networks allow. Akpabio praised both sides, saying “elections are won and lost at polling units, not collation centres,” but avoided confirming whether the February date will shift.
A minority of senators walked out after the vote. Outside, Occupy the National Assembly protesters warned against changes that could weaken the 2027 polls.
