By Erewunmi Peace

The Nigerian Senate has approved an amendment to the Electoral Act allowing for the optional real-time electronic transmission of election results, following extensive debate over election transparency and result management.

The move is part of the ongoing Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to modernize Nigeria’s election process. Under the amendment, results from polling units can now be transmitted electronically to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV) once officially recorded on Form EC8A.

However, the Senate clarified that strict real-time transmission is not mandatory. Where technical challenges or network issues occur, manual collation of results remains the official record, ensuring that the election process can continue without disruption.

The Senate’s action represents a compromise between full real-time electronic reporting and the practical realities of network infrastructure across the country. It is expected to enhance transparency, reduce delays, and strengthen public confidence in election results, while still allowing flexibility in areas with poor connectivity.

The bill must now be harmonized with the House of Representatives’ version before being presented to the President for assent to become law.

Observers say this amendment is a significant step toward modernizing Nigeria’s electoral system and may pave the way for more efficient and credible elections.