Nigerian Senate Approves Manual Results Transmission

On Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate passed amendments to the Electoral Act, specifically the 2022 repeal and re-enactment bill, allowing for manual transmission of election results if electronic systems fail. This decision came during a contentious session, with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe advocating for the formal division of Clause 60 regarding electronic transmission.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio initiated rules to address the matter, which led to significant opposition from lawmakers. The Senate ultimately voted 55 in favor of retaining the clause permitting manual transmission, while 15 opposed it.

The amendments include provisions related to election notice timelines and dispute resolution procedures. The changes aim to close legal loopholes that could lead to post-election litigation.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has set the general elections for February 2027, with concerns raised about the timing coinciding with Ramadan, which could affect voter turnout and logistics.