National Assembly Addresses Electoral Act Amid Protests

The National Assembly of Nigeria is currently engaged in efforts to harmonize the transmission clause of the Electoral Act Amendment, responding to significant public outcry following the Senate's passage of amendments that curtailed the mandate for live electronic transmission of election results. This decision sparked protests from civil society groups and renewed scrutiny as the 2027 general elections approach.

The controversial clause, specifically Clause 60(3) of the amendment bill, originally removed explicit provisions for real-time electronic uploads from polling units, which critics argue undermines the credibility of elections. The House of Representatives had previously insisted on mandatory real-time electronic transmission, which the Senate resisted due to concerns over potential network failures during elections.

A 12-member conference committee has been established to reconcile the differing versions of the bill, with the expectation that it will be finalized for presidential assent by Bola Tinubu. The committee includes representatives from both chambers, reflecting the political sensitivity of the matter.