The International Press Centre (IPC) and Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) has called on the National Assembly to prioritize the adoption of the 2022 Electoral Amendment Bill.
As the Senate convenes for an emergency plenary session today, February 10, 2026, the group is urging lawmakers to resolve the harmonization process between the Senate and the House of Representatives. The center specifically backs the House of Representatives’ versions regarding technological advancements and voter inclusivity.
At a press conference held to mobilize civil society support for a more credible electoral framework, the group urged lawmakers to align with the House of Representatives’ position on key digital reforms. The group argued that the current legal ambiguity surrounding result transmission must be resolved well ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Key Recommendations for Electoral Reform
The advocacy group highlighted three critical areas where the harmonization committee must act to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process:
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Mandatory Electronic Transmission: The group is pushing for a specific legal requirement for officials to transmit results directly from polling units to a public portal in real time.
- Downloadable PVCs: Support for allowing voters to download missing or unissued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to address the disenfranchisement of over 6.2 million registered voters recorded in 2023.
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Digital Voter Cards: To address the issue of the 6.2 million uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the 2023 cycle, the group supports the House’s proposal for downloadable voter cards.
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Broadened Reporting: They recommended expanding the list of people eligible to file official reports on election conduct to include candidates, accredited agents, and observers.
- Timeline Preservation: A demand to retain the current 360-day window for election notices to prevent logistical failures and administrative capture.
The Call for Accountability
The coalition stressed that electoral reform is not a procedural exercise but the foundation of democratic transition. The organization expressed concern that restricting the power to report electoral malpractice solely to INEC officials who may be complicit in irregularities undermines the spirit of the law. “Electronic transmission of results should be the rule, not the exception. Real-time transmission ensures that the exact results recorded at the polling units are uploaded and available for public verification before they are physically transported for collation,” IPC stated.
CALL FOR TIMELY ACTION
The group expressed concern over the administrative timeline and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue the 2027 election timetable without further delay. By adhering to the 360-day notice provision in the Electoral Act 2022, the IPC argues that INEC can mitigate the “logistical risks” and “legal vulnerabilities” created by the current legislative stalemate.
“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 centres to a public portal,” the group stated, outlining their recommended modification to the Act.
They concluded by calling on Nigerian citizens to pressure their representatives to act in the national interest rather than following narrow partisan calculations.
