Nigerians fault Senate position, opt for Reps’ version of electoral bill

.as battle shifts to harmonisation committee

Critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s political space, including analysts, lawmakers and civil society organisations, have thrown their weight behind the House of Representatives’ version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, as the controversy over electronic transmission of election results shifts to the National Assembly’s harmonisation committee.

The Senate had, during Tuesday’s plenary, approved an amendment to Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act, permitting both electronic and manual transmission of results.

But the decision has generated intense reactions across the country, with many Nigerians expressing concern that the provision could open the door to manipulation of the 2027 general elections.

Jackson Lekan Ojo, political analyst, told BusinessDay in a telephone interview that the Senate’s decision had created uncertainty ahead of 2027.

“What the Senate has done is to create an uncertain future for electoral credibility.

“Electronic transmission is allowed, but there is also a manual option in case of network issues. The concern among many Nigerians is how that option will be applied,” he said.

Ojo warned that widespread technical glitches during elections could erode trust in the system if not properly managed, stressing that the Senate’s decision is to create a window for manipulation of elections.

Following the Senate’s passage of its version of the bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, constituted a Harmonisation Committee to reconcile differences between the Senate’s amendments and the version earlier passed by the House of Representatives.

Akpabio re-appointed Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South) as Chairman of the Committee. Other members are Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North); Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central); Adeniyi Adegbonmire (APC, Ondo Central); Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia South); Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South); Asuquo Ekpeyong (APC, Cross River); Aminu Abbas (PDP, Adamawa); Tokunbo Abiru (APC, Lagos); Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East); Ipalibo Banigo (PDP, Rivers); and Peter Nwebonyi (APC, Ebonyi).

As the Committee begins deliberations, influential figures and advocacy groups have resolved to intensify pressure to ensure that the final version of the bill makes real-time electronic transmission of results mandatory. They have also cautioned Committee members against any form of compromise.

The House of Representatives’ version of Section 60(3) provides that: “The Presiding Officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IREV portal in real time and such transmission shall be done after the prescribed Form EC8A have been signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and/or counter-signed by the candidates or polling unit agents where available at the polling unit.”

Supporters of this provision argue that it removes ambiguity and limits the discretion of electoral officials, thereby strengthening transparency and public trust in the electoral process.

Bernard Mikko, a political scientist and former member of the House of Representatives, told BusinessDay in a telephone interview that key political actors are pushing for the adoption of the House version at the harmonisation stage.

According to Mikko, a former Governorship aspirant in Rivers State, the House proposal aligns more closely with public expectations.

“What Nigerians want is that their votes should count. That is the essence of democracy. So we must work to ensure mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results in 2027 and beyond. Many Nigerians are now pushing at the committee level for the right thing to be done,” he said.

Speaking on ARISE News, Seriake Dickson, former Governor of Bayelsa State and Senator representing Bayelsa West, said reforms must be incremental and pledged to support the House of Representatives l’ version during harmonisation, describing it as reflective of earlier consensus.

“If I were a member of the conference committee, I would adopt the House version because it reflects what we all agreed in the joint committee,” he said.

Similarly, Martins Onovo, Presidential candidate of the defunct National Conscience Party (NCP), argued that the Senate’s amendment could weaken the integrity of the process.

Onovo told BusinessDay that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) commands more than a two-thirds majority in both Chambers of the National Assembly, suggesting that the Senate’s position reflects the party’s dominance. He maintained, however, that the Harmonisation Committee has an opportunity to adopt the House version in the interest of credibility.

“My understanding of what the Senate has done is to allow electronic transmission but make the paper version prevail and superior. In court, when results are challenged, they could rely on the paper version. If the electronic result shows one outcome and the paper shows another, the paper could be used,” he said.

He urged Committee members to carry out their assignment without yielding to pressure or inducement.

Similarly, Peter Ameh, former national chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and former national chairman of the defunct Progressives People’s Alliance (PPA), expressed reservations about the Senate’s amendment.

According to Ameh, the House of Representatives’ version is comparatively fair and more reflective of the demand for transparency. He warned that any provision that creates room for discretion in the event of network failure could undermine public confidence.

“Any amendment in a democratic system should not give room for manipulation. What Nigerians are asking for is mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results,” he said.

Chekwas Okorie, elder statesman and founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the defunct United Progressives Party (UPP), described the Senate’s decision as troubling.

Okorie, a former Presidential candidate, told BusinessDay that the Harmonisation Committee should adopt the House of Representatives’ recommendation to preserve the integrity of the National Assembly.

“What Nigerians, including civil society organisations, have asked for is mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results. Any attempt to dilute that could heighten tensions unnecessarily.

“What the Senate has done, if it is allowed to stand, is to allow Nigerians to take their destiny in their own hands and ensure that their votes are not compromised in any way. And when you have a situation like that, it is a clear invitation to anarchy,” he said.

Yunusa Tanko, former national chairman of the defunct NCP and ex-chairman of IPAC, also warned that introducing a manual option could create confusion.

Tanko, the chief spokesman for the Peter Obi /Datti Presidential Campaign Council in the 2023 Presidential election, said, “What Nigerians need and are asking for is mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results. It is possible for government to improve network infrastructure to support this process. Creating an alternative manual pathway may generate disputes.”

Tanko argued that reliance on claims of network failure could complicate the 2027 elections if not clearly defined and regulated.

A member of the Harmonisation Committee, who spoke to BusinessDay on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the intense public interest in the matter.

He said members of the Committee, including himself, had been inundated with calls, pressuring them to do the right thing to ensure credible elections in the future.

“We are facing pressure from many Nigerians. We will weigh the options and consult widely before arriving at our final report,” he said.

Asked whether the Committee would adopt the House of Representatives’ version of Clause 60(3), the Senator responded, “That will have to be a collective decision, not mine.”

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