The Senate on Tuesday moved to allow for both electronic and manual transmission of election results, a decision that follows weeks of public demonstrations and intense debate over the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.
The resolution was reached during a plenary session where lawmakers reviewed recommendations intended to resolve the controversy surrounding result verification. Under the modified Clause 60, presiding officers at polling units are now mandated to electronically transmit results directly to the Independent Electoral Commission’s IREV portal.
The amendment provides a dual-track system to account for potential infrastructure challenges. In instances where electronic transmission is unsuccessful due to communication or network failures, the manual result sheet, known as Form EC8A, will serve as the primary source for the collation process.
This legislative shift follows a period of sustained pressure from civil society groups and protesters at the National Assembly who argued that mandatory electronic transmission is essential for reducing fraud and ensuring the integrity of the vote.
Reflecting on the change, a spokesperson for the Senate stated, “This decision represents a commitment to listening to the concerns of the Nigerian people while ensuring that our electoral laws are both modern and practical enough to withstand technical challenges on the ground.”
