Reps in Dramatic Reversal Over Electronic Transmission Bill
By TOSAN OYAKHILOME-AKAHOMEN
House Drama as Electoral Amendment Sparks Walkout
THE House of Representatives was thrown into turmoil on Tuesday after lawmakers reversed aspects of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, triggering a dramatic walkout by opposition members and reopening intense debate over the future of election result transmission in Nigeria.
At the heart of the controversy lies Section 60(3) of the proposed amendment, which previously mandated strict real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IREV). However, a harmonised version emerging from a Conference Committee introduced a manual fallback option where electronic uploads fail.
The inclusion of that proviso fractured the chamber.
Harmonisation Sparks Resistance
The disagreement stems from differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. While the House initially insisted on mandatory real-time electronic transmission, the Senate adopted a more flexible approach—allowing manual collation where technological failures occur.
To reconcile the divergence, a Conference Committee involving leadership of both chambers, clerks, and legal drafting experts reviewed the legislation. But the harmonised clause, rather than settling the dispute, reignited it.
During plenary presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, moved a motion to rescind aspects of the bill and recommit it for reconsideration.
Waive explained that the revision sought to correct anomalies and prevent unintended consequences in the law, stressing the need to ensure fairness, inclusivity, administrative efficiency, and public trust.
Under the revised clause, presiding officers must electronically transmit results after completing Form EC8A, the official polling unit result sheet. However, where network or communication challenges prevent electronic upload, the manually completed Form EC8A becomes the primary document for collation and declaration.
Voice Vote, Rising Tempers
Tension peaked when the motion was put to a voice vote. A majority of lawmakers audibly responded “nay,” signalling resistance. Despite the opposition, the Speaker ruled in favour of reconsideration, sparking uproar across party lines.
Lawmakers shouted slogans and accusations. Proceedings were temporarily moved into a closed-door executive session to restore order.
Upon passage of the revised clause, opposition lawmakers led by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda staged a walkout. Moving to the House Media Centre, they described the amendment as anti-people and a betrayal of earlier commitments to strengthen electoral transparency.
Chants of “APC, Ole!” echoed through the press gallery, underscoring the sharp political divide.
An opposition member alleged that the bill’s earlier House-approved version had been altered, though no formal evidence of tampering was presented.
Senate Divided Over Clause 60
Meanwhile, the Senate experienced its own heated debate.
During emergency plenary, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved a motion for rescission and recommittal of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026. The upper chamber ultimately passed a version that does not mandate exclusive real-time electronic transmission.
Former Minority Leader Enyinnaya Abaribe demanded a division over Clause 60(3), seeking removal of the proviso allowing manual transmission where electronic systems fail.
After voting, 55 senators supported the Senate’s position permitting dual transmission, while 15 backed the stricter electronic-only model earlier favoured by the House.
The Senate also amended Clause 28(1), reducing the notice period for elections from 360 days to 300 days. The adjustment was prompted by concerns that previously scheduled 2027 elections—announced by INEC for 20 February and 6 March—could clash with Ramadan observances, potentially affecting turnout and logistics.
Technology vs. Infrastructure Reality
The controversy highlights a central dilemma in Nigeria’s electoral reform journey: how to balance transparency-enhancing technology with infrastructural limitations.
Supporters of mandatory electronic transmission argue that it reduces manipulation, speeds verification, and boosts public trust. Critics warn that Nigeria’s uneven telecommunications coverage makes exclusive reliance risky.
Sagay: Removing Fallback ‘Risky’
Weighing in on the debate, Professor Itse Sagay, former chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), argued that eliminating the manual fallback would be imprudent.
According to him, Nigeria’s technological capacity is not yet foolproof. He noted that electronic systems should complement, not replace, ballot paper collation entirely.
Sagay warned that if electronic uploads fail in remote areas and manual collation is disallowed, entire elections could require reruns—an outcome he described as unnecessary and destabilising.
He maintained that the ballot paper remains the foundational record, with electronic transmission serving as verification.
What Comes Next?
As both chambers align around a dual-transmission model, attention shifts to final passage and implementation.
The debate reflects deeper anxieties about trust, infrastructure, and political credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Whether the compromise strengthens electoral integrity or reopens old suspicions remains to be seen.
