Nigerian Senate Approves Conditional E-Transmission of Election Results Amid Rowdy Session

In a tumultuous session, the Nigerian Senate approved a conditional electronic transmission of election results, amending the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026. The Senate rescinded its earlier rejection of a proposal mandating real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units to INEC's portal.

The revised clause now mandates the electronic transmission of results using a prescribed form (EC8A) signed and stamped by the presiding officer and party agents. The session turned contentious when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) invoked a parliamentary order, leading to loud exchanges and procedural disputes.

Eventually, the Senate set up a 12-member conference committee to harmonize the bill with the House of Representatives' version. The move aims to expedite the bill's passage within a week for the President's assent.