The Senate of Nigeria on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Amendment Bill 2026, bringing the contentious legislative process closer to completion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The passage followed tense deliberations in the upper chamber triggered by a dispute over Clause 60, which deals with the electronic transmission of election results.
E-Transmission Clause Sparks Row in Senate
Proceedings began on a divisive note when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe demanded a formal division on Clause 60 during plenary, prompting a rowdy session and sharp exchanges among lawmakers.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio maintained that a demand for division had already been withdrawn earlier in the debate, a position immediately contested by opposition senators.
At issue was a provision that allows electronic transmission of results but retains manual collation via Form EC8A as a fallback where electronic methods fail due to technical challenges. Opponents argued this weakens efforts to modernise the electoral process.
In the eventual vote, 55 senators supported retaining the manual backup clause, while 15 opposed it, underscoring lingering disagreements on how best to balance transparency with infrastructural realities.
Broader Context and Next Steps
The passage represents a significant legislative milestone, but the Bill will still require harmonisation with the version passed by the House of Representatives before being sent to Bola Tinubu for assent.
Opposition lawmakers in the House have already criticised efforts to adopt the Senate’s version of Clause 60, arguing that full electronic transmission of results without compromise better supports electoral transparency.
Lawmakers also made other amendments, including revising election notice timelines and penalties for electoral offences, but the focus remains on how results will be transmitted and verified nationwide.
As Nigeria prepares for elections next year, the final shape of the Electoral Act could have far-reaching implications for election credibility, technology deployment, and public trust in the democratic process.
