The debate over Nigeria’s electoral reforms intensified on Tuesday as a senior lawmaker addressed mounting concerns surrounding the National Assembly’s decision to retain Section 60 (3 & 5) of the Electoral Act, 2022 in the ongoing amendment process.
The lawmaker disclosed that over the past two weeks, he had been inundated with messages from concerned and respected stakeholders across the country seeking clarification on the Senate’s position. According to him, the content of the messages was largely uniform, reflecting widespread anxiety about the direction of electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general election.
He explained that his delayed response was due to two primary reasons. First, he had been engaged in a national assignment outside Nigeria, which limited his ability to respond individually. Second, he noted that the volume and consistency of the messages indicated that the issue transcended private correspondence and required a comprehensive public intervention.
“The concerns expressed reflect the mood of the citizenry at a critical time when preparations for the 2027 general election are underway,” he said. “It became necessary to address our constituents collectively.”
At the centre of the controversy is Clause 60(3) of the proposed Electoral Bill, 2026, which seeks to mandate presiding officers to electronically transmit polling unit results to the IReV portal in real time, immediately after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped, and countersigned by party agents where available.
The clause states that results must be transmitted electronically from each polling unit directly to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time — a provision many Nigerians consider crucial for enhancing transparency and curbing electoral malpractice.
However, the Senate resolved against adopting the clause in its proposed form, a move that has sparked public debate and criticism. Civil society organisations and political observers argue that weakening mandatory real-time electronic transmission could undermine the credibility gains recorded in recent elections.
In defending the decision, lawmakers insist that the National Assembly remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral governance framework. They maintain that the objective is not to dilute transparency but to craft a law that reflects operational realities, technological limitations, and the diverse conditions under which elections are conducted across the country.
Supporters of the Senate’s position argue that embedding rigid technological requirements into the law without accommodating infrastructure disparities — such as network coverage challenges in rural areas — could create legal and logistical complications.
Nevertheless, critics contend that real-time electronic transmission is central to public trust in the electoral system and caution against any perceived rollback of reforms introduced under the 2022 Act.
As consultations continue, the debate underscores the delicate balance between legal precision, technological feasibility and public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process. With the countdown to 2027 already underway, stakeholders agree on one point: any amendment to the electoral framework must ultimately strengthen transparency, inclusivity and credibility in the nation’s elections.
