The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned of possible nationwide protests and election boycotts over what it described as confusion and conflicting signals from the Senate regarding amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly on the electronic transmission of election results.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, accused the Senate of creating uncertainty that could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process by failing to clearly state whether electronic transmission of results would be mandatory.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress expresses deep concern over the confusion and contradictory narratives emerging from the Senate regarding the amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act, especially on electronic transmission of results,” Ajaero said.
The labour union noted that available records indicate the Senate did not adopt the proposed amendment mandating real-time electronic transmission of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but instead retained the existing discretionary provision. According to the NLC, subsequent explanations from lawmakers have only worsened public apprehension.
“Nigerians deserve a transparent system where votes are not only counted but seen to be counted,” the statement said, warning that legislative ambiguity at a critical time could institutionalise doubt within the electoral system.
The NLC demanded that the Senate issue an immediate and unambiguous clarification of the exact provisions passed, including the final wording and the reasons behind its decision. It also urged the National Assembly leadership to ensure that the harmonisation process with the House of Representatives produces a clear and coherent final bill.
The Congress insisted that the amended Electoral Act must compel INEC to transmit and collate results electronically in real time, warning that failure to do so could trigger mass action.
“Failure to add electronic transmission in real-time will lead to mass action before, during and after the election, or even a total boycott,” the NLC warned, adding that Nigerian workers and citizens are closely watching developments.
The warning follows the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 on February 4, 2026. In passing the bill, the Senate rejected a proposal to make electronic transmission of results mandatory, opting to retain a provision that allows INEC to determine the mode of result transmission.
The decision sparked public outrage and criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who argue that discretionary transmission increases the risk of manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections. It also differs from the position of the House of Representatives, which had earlier approved mandatory electronic transmission, necessitating a conference committee to reconcile both versions.
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has maintained that the Senate did not abolish electronic transmission of results but only removed the phrase “real-time” to avoid potential legal and technical complications. He said the change gives INEC flexibility to address network and security challenges while reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to credible elections.
Despite the controversy, the amendment bill also introduces other reforms, including digital voter identification using QR codes and tougher penalties for electoral offences.
