Senators Clash Over Manual Backup in Election Result Transmission

A group of 15 senators in Nigeria’s National Assembly opposed a provision in the recently amended Electoral Act Bill, insisting that election results should be transmitted electronically without fallback to manual processes.

The debate focused on Clause 60, which governs how results from polling units are relayed to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s result portal. While the current law allows presiding officers to upload results electronically, a manual backup using Form EC8A is permitted if technical issues occur.

During a tense session, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and 14 other lawmakers called for the removal of the fallback option, arguing that relying on manual forms where technology fails could compromise transparency. However, 55 senators voted to retain the manual backup clause.

Supporters of the mixed transmission approach argue it balances efficiency with practical challenges like poor network coverage, especially in rural areas. Critics warn that allowing manual backups could undermine the credibility of electronic result reporting ahead of the 2027 general elections.