Senate rejects proposal for mandatory electronic transmission of election results

The Nigerian Senate has rejected a proposal that would have made the electronic transmission of election results compulsory across the country.

The decision came during deliberations on a new amendment to the Electoral Amendment Bill, sparking renewed debate over the role of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Lawmakers voted down the proposed amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, which sought to mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically transmit results directly from polling units to its central portal.

The proposal aimed to strengthen transparency and reduce manipulation during result collation.

Under the rejected amendment, presiding officers were expected to upload results directly after completing the official result form at each polling unit. The process would have taken place immediately after the form was signed and confirmed by party agents.

However, the Senate resolved to retain the existing provision of the Electoral Act. This provision gives INEC the authority to determine how election results are transmitted.

The law now continues to rely on the current wording, which states that “the presiding officer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot, in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”

Several senators argued that giving INEC flexibility would allow the commission to choose the most practical and secure method of transmission based on available infrastructure.

They expressed concerns about network challenges in rural communities and possible disruptions during elections.

Others maintained that compulsory electronic transmission could expose the process to technical failures and cyber risks. They warned that forcing a single method nationwide could affect the credibility of elections if systems fail on election day.

Supporters of the rejected amendment had pushed for electronic transmission as a way to curb ballot manipulation and delay in announcing results. They insisted that technology would help improve public confidence in the electoral process.

The Senate’s decision means that INEC will continue to use a combination of manual and electronic methods as it deems fit for future elections.