The Nigerian Senate has defended its decision to make the electronic transmission of election results discretionary rather than mandatory in the ongoing reform of Nigeria’s electoral governance framework, insisting the move was guided by empirical data and national realities.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele clarified the upper chamber’s position in a statement issued through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs on Sunday. He said lawmakers carefully considered data from the communications and power sectors before reviewing Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Bill, 2026.
What Clause 60(3) Proposed
The contentious clause had stipulated that presiding officers “shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time.”
However, the Senate resolved to revise the clause by deleting the phrase “real time” and making electronic transmission subject to prevailing conditions. It further provided that in the event of internet failure, Form EC8A would serve as the primary means of result collation.
Infrastructure Concerns
Bamidele said data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that Nigeria had achieved only about 70 percent broadband coverage in 2025, with internet penetration at 44.53 percent of the population.
He also cited the Speedtest Global Index, which ranked Nigeria:
- 85th out of 105 countries in mobile network reliability
- 129th out of 150 countries in fixed broadband reliability
According to the index, Nigeria’s mobile network speed stood at 44.14 Mbps, while fixed broadband averaged 33.32 Mbps — figures he described as significantly below global standards.
On electricity supply, the Senate leader noted that about 85 million Nigerians — roughly 43 percent of the population — lack access to grid power. Although generation capacity ranges between 12,000 and 13,500 megawatts, only about 4,500 megawatts can be effectively distributed nationwide.
He argued that mandating real-time electronic transmission under such conditions could create avoidable crises during elections.
Balancing Reform and Reality
Bamidele maintained that while real-time e-transmission could deepen public trust in democratic institutions, including the National Assembly and INEC, lawmakers must ensure that legislation reflects existing infrastructure realities.
He referenced Section 62(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which already established a National Electronic Register of Election Results, stressing that the revised clause still strengthens electronic transmission but with flexibility.
The decision has sparked controversy, prompting demonstrations by some Nigerians and opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi. The Senate subsequently convened an emergency session to address concerns surrounding the provision.
Bamidele concluded that lawmaking must be based on facts rather than sentiment, warning that legislation detached from national realities could destabilise the political system rather than strengthen it.
