Real-Time Results: The Senate’s Hesitation & Nigeria’s Democracy At Risk

The Threat of Subverting the Public Will

LAST week, the Senate rejected a provision in the Electoral Act 2022 amendment that would have mandated real-time electronic transmission of election results to INEC’s IReV portal. This reform, designed to prevent manipulation and increase transparency, represents the single most critical amendment in the electoral bill. Its rejection risks repeating the uncertainties and litigations that marred the 2023 general elections.

By keeping results transfer vague, the Senate has, intentionally or not, preserved a loophole that could enable election manipulation, undermining the democratic mandate of Nigerians.

Consensus Ignored

Evidence shows that most senators supported real-time transmission, reflecting months of careful committee work and stakeholder consultations. Yet, Senate leadership overruled this consensus, citing concerns about litigation and political stability—justifications critics deem unconvincing. Opposition senators, including Abdul Ningi and Aminu Tambuwal, confirmed that the ad hoc committee had endorsed the measure after public hearings and consultations.

The House of Representatives, which passed its version of the bill in December 2025, explicitly included real-time electronic transmission. For the sake of electoral integrity, this version should guide the harmonisation process.

Public and Civil Society Backlash

The Senate’s position has provoked widespread criticism. Civil society groups, opposition parties, and concerned citizens describe the move as a “deliberate assault on electoral transparency.” Section 60(3) of the Senate bill merely allows results to be “transferred” rather than transmitted in real time—a replication of the ambiguity that marred the 2023 polls, where technical glitches and opaque collation allowed controversies to flourish.

Real-time electronic reporting is essential. Without it, collated results remain vulnerable to manipulation, threatening not only election credibility but also national stability.

Erosion of Electoral Preparedness

INEC’s preparations for 2027 are already hampered by the Senate’s delay. The statutory 360-day Notice of Election has been truncated to 180 days, narrowing the window for logistical and administrative planning. Failure to enact reforms—such as stricter sanctions for vote-buying, enforcement of presiding officer accountability, and compulsory electronic party membership submissions—perpetuates vulnerabilities that contributed to the 2023 pre-election disputes.

Global Lessons and the Nigerian Context

Democracies worldwide have learned from electoral crises. Following the 2000 U.S. presidential election, Florida instituted sweeping reforms to secure results and restore public confidence. Nigeria cannot ignore such precedents. Past elections in Nigeria have suffered from unnumbered ballots, unverified voters, and unchecked collation processes, leaving the electorate disenfranchised.

Restoring Integrity is Non-Negotiable

The Senate faces a choice: codify clarity and transparency or perpetuate electoral opacity. Ambiguous provisions will embolden anti-democratic forces and opportunists. To safeguard democracy, the National Assembly must enshrine real-time electronic transmission, clear penalties for vote manipulation, and enforceable procedures for election administration.

As the 2027 elections approach, Nigerians deserve an electoral framework that guarantees their votes are counted accurately and transparently. Anything less is a compromise of democratic integrity, and the country cannot afford such a setback.