Nigeria's Assembly Rejects Mandatory E-Transmission of Votes

The Nigerian National Assembly has recently refused to endorse a proposal for the compulsory electronic transmission of election results, despite public protests advocating for this change. The decision, which was influenced by concerns over possible network failures, was made during discussions on the Electoral Act repeal and re-enactment bill for 2026.

President Bola Tinubu has signed the controversial bill, which allows for manual completion of result forms in cases of network failure. Former INEC official Mike Igini criticized the decision, urging the President not to sign the bill, as it could undermine Nigeria's democracy.

The Senate's rejection of mandatory electronic transmission has been met with backlash from civil society organizations and electoral monitors, who argue that it weakens the integrity of the electoral process. The Senate's position was supported by telecom experts, who indicated that only 70% of Nigeria is covered by 3G, 4G, or 5G networks, raising concerns about the feasibility of electronic transmission in remote areas.