Nigerian Senate Clarifies Stand on Electronic Transmission of Election Results Amid Confusion

In a recent development regarding the 2027 Elections in Nigeria, the Nigerian Senate, led by Godswill Akpabio, clarified that it did not reject the electronic transmission of election results during the consideration of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. Despite initial reports indicating the rejection, Akpabio insisted that the Senate did not remove the provision for electronic transmission.

The clarification came after a marathon session lasting 4-5 hours on February 4, 2026. The Senate passed the bill with 155 clauses, retaining the original proposal for electronic transmission.

This clarification aims to dispel confusion and misinformation among the public. Notably, the passage of the bill included amendments to select provisions, with a focus on reducing the timeline for INEC to publish election notices.

Additionally, the report mentions a legal battle where a party sought to compel INEC to use electronic transmission in the 2023 elections, but the court ruled in favor of INEC's discretion. Presiding Judge Emeka Nwite upheld the Electoral Act of 2022, granting INEC the liberty to determine how election results will be transmitted.