The Senate on Tuesday adopted both electronic and manual methods for transmitting election results, following weeks of public outrage and protests over attempts to restrict electronic transmission in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.
The decision was taken during plenary in Abuja after lawmakers reviewed recommendations aimed at addressing concerns raised by Nigerians about the credibility of the electoral process.
The Senate modified Clause 60 of the Electoral Act to require the presiding officer at each polling unit to electronically transmit election results to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal.
Under the new arrangement, if electronic transmission fails because of communication or network problems, the manual result sheet, known as Form EC8A, will be used as the main document for result collation.
The lawmakers said the decision was made to balance the use of technology with practical challenges faced in some parts of the country, especially areas with poor network coverage.
The move followed sustained protests at the National Assembly in recent weeks, where demonstrators demanded that electronic transmission of results should be protected by law.
The protesters argued that electronic transmission is important for reducing electoral fraud and restoring public trust in elections.
During the protests, many citizens and civil society groups warned that limiting electronic transmission could weaken transparency and credibility in future elections.
By adopting both electronic and manual methods, the Senate said it aims to respond to public concerns while ensuring that election results are properly transmitted and collated nationwide.
The decision is part of the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act, which is intended to improve Nigeria’s electoral system and strengthen democratic processes.
The Senate is expected to continue deliberations on other sections of the amended law in the coming days.
