The Speak Out Africa Initiative (SOAI) and CSOs have strongly rejected the version of the Electoral Bill 2026 recently passed by the Nigerian Senate, labeling it a recipe for disaster that ignores the public’s demand for transparency.
In a press statement released Tuesday, the civil society organization accused the Senate of working against the wishes of millions of Nigerians by failing to mandate the real-time electronic transmission of election results.
“The Senate’s version is a recipe for disaster, as it leaves room for manipulation and contestation of election results. It undermines the genuine aspirations of citizens who want their votes counted instantly and made transparently available in real time,” the group stated.
The primary point of contention lies in the revised Clause 60(3). While the House of Representatives’ version of the bill explicitly mandates the real-time transmission of results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, the Senate’s version retains discretionary language.
According to SOAI, the Senate’s version makes transmission conditional on technical feasibility, a move the group claims leaves the door open for the same administrative manipulations and controversies that dogged the 2023 general elections.
Calls for Accountability
“The focus has now shifted to the 24-member Conference and Harmonization Committee, which is tasked with reconciling the differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill” the group stated.
The SOAI is demanding that this committee adopt the House of Representatives’ version in its entirety, including provisions for:
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Real-time electronic transmission of results to the IReV portal.
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A 369-day election timetable.
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Electronic PVC downloads.
- Live transmission of Conference Committee meetings to Nigerian citizens nationwide.
Demand for Transparency
Beyond the legal language, the SOAI is calling for the Conference Committee’s deliberations to be televised live. The group argues that because the Nigerian people are the true employers of elected officials, they deserve full visibility into the process that will determine the credibility of future elections.
“Democracy is not a spectator sport,” the statement read. “It requires active participation and sustained pressure to ensure that the rights and voices of citizens are upheld.”
The organization urged Nigerians, media houses, and faith groups to remain vigilant and hold their legislators accountable as the harmonization process begins.
