The Senate has approved a framework allowing both electronic and manual transmission of election results, granting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the authority to upload results to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) while retaining manual collation as a fallback option where technology fails.
The decision followed a fresh deliberation on a contentious clause of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill during plenary on Tuesday.
The amendment was introduced through a motion sponsored by Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), who told lawmakers that a review of Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026, revealed the need for adjustments to avert disputes and operational challenges during elections.
According to Monguno, the revised provision permits presiding officers at polling units to electronically transmit election results to the IReV portal after Form EC8A has been properly completed, signed, and stamped.
“This amendment is aimed at strengthening the credibility of our electoral process while taking into account the realities on ground,”
“It allows electronic transmission where possible but avoids making it mandatory in areas with technological limitations,”Monguno said .
However, the Senate clarified that the provision does not mandate electronic transmission nor does it allow real-time uploading of results.
Under the approved amendment, where electronic transmission is hindered by network or communication challenges, the manually completed EC8A form will serve as the primary basis for collation and declaration of results.
The motion was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), who stressed the need for electoral laws that balance transparency with Nigeria’s infrastructural constraints.
“Our laws must promote openness and credibility, but they must also reflect the realities of connectivity and infrastructure across different parts of the country,” Moro said.
The amendment is expected to reduce election-related disputes while ensuring flexibility in result transmission during polls.