Senate Moves To Mandate Electronic Transmission Of Election Results
Senate Weighs Mandatory Electronic Result Transmission to Curb Election Fraud
THE Nigerian Senate is set to consider landmark amendments to electoral procedures aimed at enhancing transparency and preventing election manipulation, including ballot box snatching and result falsification. The proposals were detailed in the latest report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, scheduled for plenary consideration and clause-by-clause debate.
Electronic Results and Presiding Officer Accountability
A key provision in the report mandates that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) electronically transmit results from each polling unit to the IReV portal in real time, simultaneously with physical collation of results. According to the document, this step is intended to reduce the incidence of manual tampering at polling stations.
The report also introduces stricter accountability for presiding officers. A new subsection to Section 77 stipulates penalties for officials who fail to sign and stamp ballot papers and results announced by them, reinforcing individual responsibility in the electoral process.
In addition, Section 47 (2) and (3) now refer to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in place of “smart card readers,” reflecting INEC’s move toward more robust voter verification technology.
Protecting Vulnerable Voters and Punishing Malpractices
Other amendments include enhanced protections for visually impaired and incapacitated voters. The report prohibits political party agents, candidates, or officials from accompanying such voters into voting compartments to prevent undue influence.
The committee also recommended increasing the penalty for buying or selling voters’ cards from ₦500,000 to ₦5,000,000, signaling a firmer stance against electoral corruption.
Senate Procedures and Preparations
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele emphasized the need for all senators to study the report before deliberations. President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, urged colleagues to scrutinize the document ahead of plenary consideration, noting that a closed-door session will precede discussions at the committee of the whole.
“The report should be reviewed carefully to ensure we implement reforms that strengthen public confidence in our electoral process,” Akpabio said.
Separately, US Airstrikes in Sokoto Spark Closed-Door Debate
In a related development, the Senate postponed open deliberations on 25 December United States military airstrikes against suspected terrorist enclaves in Sokoto State. The action, confirmed by both the US and Nigerian governments, was described as coordinated with Nigerian security agencies.
Senator Abdul Ningi raised concerns that the operation bypassed legislative oversight, warning that foreign military strikes on Nigerian soil could undermine sovereignty. Akpabio directed that details of the strikes be handled in a closed session, citing national security considerations and the need for discretion.
With both election reforms and security issues on the agenda, the Senate’s session underscores growing legislative attention to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic and sovereign processes.
