Fresh controversy has erupted over Nigeria’s electoral reforms following an emergency plenary session of the Senate on Monday, 10 February 2026, which commenced at about 12:50 p.m., amid sustained public backlash over the rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results.
The Senate’s latest amendment has drawn renewed criticism from Nigerians, civil society groups, and political leaders who insist it weakens electoral credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nigerian Senate Plenary Session. Credit: Abdulqudus Ogundapo
The emergency session followed outrage triggered by comments from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who had earlier defended scrapping mandatory electronic transmission on the grounds of insecurity and poor network coverage.
Under pressure, the Senate revisited provisions of the Electoral Act dealing with the transmission and collation of election results.
During the plenary, the motion to rescind the Senate’s earlier decision and reconsider electronic transmission was moved by the Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, and seconded by the Minority Leader, Abba Moro.
Senate President Akpabio subsequently put the motion to a voice vote, and it was adopted by the chamber.
Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate of Nigeria. Credit: Daily Trust
Documents from the Senate’s proceedings indicate that Clause 60(3), which previously mandated real-time electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal, was altered.
The revised clause now mandates electronic transmission of polling unit results “as long as it does not fail,” while designating Form EC8A as the primary source of election results.
Critics argue that the inclusion of conditional language introduces discretion that could undermine transparency.
Reacting to the development, several civil society organisations issued a joint statement in Abuja on February 10 titled “Civil Society Statement on Senate’s Revised Clause 60(3) on Electronic Transmission.”
The statement warned that electronic transmission with embedded loopholes undermines electoral integrity.
They described the conditions inserted into the clause as a setback that weakens safeguards contained in the 2022 Electoral Act.
The groups specifically raised concerns about what they termed the “Failure Clause,” noting that the phrase “provided if it fails and it becomes impossible to transmit” introduces dangerous ambiguity because the bill does not define what constitutes failure, how such failure should be documented, or what verification mechanisms should apply.
They warned that in the absence of clear safeguards; the clause could create loopholes capable of undermining the purpose of electronic transmission.
They also questioned the decision to designate Form EC8A as the “primary source” of results, arguing that if electronically transmitted results are not treated equally in law, their value as a transparency safeguard could be weakened.
The statement emphasised that electronic transmission is not symbolic, but a structural safeguard designed to reduce manipulation between polling unit declaration and collation.
The Civil Society Organisations, including the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), ElectHER, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, TAF Africa, and Yiaga Africa, called on the Conference Committee of the National Assembly to adopt the House of Representatives’ position, which states:
“The designated election official shall electronically transmit all election results in real time, including the number of accredited voters, directly from the polling units and collation centers to a public portal and the transmitted result shall be used to verify any other result before it is collated.”
CSOs at the joint press conference. Credit: Yiaga Africa
They also urged lawmakers to ensure meaningful participation by civil society and technical experts in the conference committee deliberations, stressing that the credibility of future elections depends on getting the details right.
The organisations argued that Nigerians have demonstrated through sustained advocacy that they demand transparent and credible elections, adding that while the Senate’s reversal shows civic pressure can yield results, the reform process remains incomplete.
As reactions continue to pour in, observers say the debate over Clause 60(3) has become a defining test of Nigeria’s commitment to electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Opposition figures also stepped-up criticism. Former Vice President and presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar said, “I oppose the Senate’s decision to combine electronic and manual transmission of election results. It will cause confusion. Opposition parties must unite to address this.”
Adding to the criticism, Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accused lawmakers of repeating past failures.
In a Channels’ Television interview, he said, “What I saw in the Senate today was deceit and fraud. They said if INEC has a technical glitch, results can be transmitted manually; that’s exactly what happened in 2023.” INEC refers to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
As criticism continues to mount, many Nigerians say the Senate’s decision has further deepened distrust in the electoral process, warning that without a clear and mandatory framework for electronic transmission of results, confidence in the 2027 general elections remains fragile.
