The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning of potential nationwide protests and possible election boycotts, citing what it described as confusion and inconsistent positions taken by the Senate over amendments to the Electoral Act, especially on the issue of electronic transmission of election results.
The labour movement accused the upper legislative chamber of weakening public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system by failing to clearly define whether electronic transmission of results would be compulsory.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expresses deep concern over the confusion and contradictory narratives emerging from the Senate regarding the amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act, particularly on electronic transmission of results,” NLC President Joe Ajaero said in a statement released on Sunday.
According to the Congress, uncertainty surrounding the Senate’s final stance poses a serious threat to electoral credibility and public confidence. It stressed that “Nigerians deserve a transparent system where votes are not only counted but seen to be counted”.
The NLC noted that available public records indicate that the proposed amendment requiring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit election results electronically in real time was not adopted, with lawmakers instead retaining the existing discretionary provision.
“This has generated nationwide apprehension, and subsequent explanations have only added to the confusion,” the statement said. The labour body warned that such “legislative ambiguity,” especially at a critical post-2023 election period, could permanently entrench doubt within Nigeria’s electoral framework.
The Congress demanded that the Senate provide an “immediate, official, and unambiguous account” of the exact provisions passed into law, including the final wording of the amendment and the justification for its decision.
“The National Assembly leadership must also ensure the harmonisation process produces a final bill with crystal-clear provisions; any ambiguity in the transmission and collation of results is a disservice to our democracy,” the statement added.
Insisting on a firmer legal framework, the NLC said the amended Electoral Act must clearly compel INEC to electronically transmit and collate results from polling units in real time. It warned that failure to include such a mandate could spark widespread resistance.
“Failure to add electronic transmission in real-time will lead to mass action before, during and after the election or total boycott of the election,” the Congress cautioned, adding that “Nigerian workers and citizens are watching closely”.
“Our nation must choose the path of clarity and integrity. We need to avoid the same confusion that trailed the new Tax Acts. The time for honest, people-focused legislation is now,” the statement concluded.
Electoral Act Amendment
The warning comes after the Senate passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 through its third reading on February 4, 2026.
While approving the bill, the Senate rejected a proposed amendment to Clause 60(3) that sought to make electronic transmission of election results compulsory.
The rejected clause would have mandated presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically upload results from polling units to the IReV portal in real time, after the required result forms had been signed and stamped.
Instead, lawmakers opted to retain the existing provision of the Electoral Act, which permits results to be transmitted “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission,” effectively maintaining INEC’s discretion over how results are transmitted and collated.
The decision sparked public backlash and drew sharp criticism from opposition parties and civil society organisations, who argue that dependence on manual collation heightens the risk of manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Senate’s stance also contrasts with that of the House of Representatives, which had earlier approved mandatory electronic transmission. This divergence now requires a conference committee to reconcile both versions of the bill before it is forwarded to the President for assent.
Amid the controversy, Senate President Godswill Akpabio maintained that the Senate did not abolish electronic transmission of results but merely removed the phrase “real-time” to prevent potential legal and technical complications.
He explained that the adjustment was intended to give INEC the flexibility to determine the most appropriate transmission method, taking into account network reliability and security concerns, while reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to enacting laws that reflect the wishes of Nigerians.
Despite the dispute, the amendment bill also introduces other reforms, including the use of QR codes for digital voter identification and tougher penalties for electoral offences.
What you should know
The NLC’s warning highlights growing tension over Nigeria’s electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 elections.
At the centre of the dispute is whether INEC should be legally compelled to transmit election results electronically in real time.
While the Senate retained INEC’s discretion, labour unions, civil society groups, and opposition parties argue that mandatory electronic transmission is crucial for transparency and credibility in the electoral process.
