Politics
Breaking: Nigeria Senate OKs Electronic Transmission of Polling Unit Results to IReV, Keeps Manual Fallback
The Nigerian Senate has approved provisions for the electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV), while retaining manual collation as a fallback mechanism in cases of technological failure.
This adjustment came during an emergency plenary session on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, following intense public backlash, protests, and calls from civil society groups, opposition figures like Peter Obi, and stakeholders who demanded stronger safeguards ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The upper chamber reconsidered its earlier decision made during the third reading of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 on February 4—to reject mandatory real-time uploads. Instead, senators amended the relevant clause (around Section 60) to accommodate electronic transmission of results, but made it non-mandatory.
The process allows presiding officers to upload results to IReV where technology permits, with manual processes via Form EC8A serving as the primary method if internet or system issues arise.
However, the Senate stopped short of enforcing compulsory real-time transmission or uploads, opting to preserve flexibility for INEC to prescribe the manner of result transfer in line with existing provisions from the 2022 Electoral Act.
This means electronic transmission is permitted and encouraged but not required in all circumstances, drawing criticism from those who argue it fails to fully address past issues of result manipulation at collation centers.
The decision sparked rowdy scenes in the chamber during debates, with some lawmakers protesting the motion to rescind and re-amend the clause. Senate leadership, including President Godswill Akpabio, has maintained that electronic transmission itself was not rejected only the strict “real-time” and mandatory elements were adjusted to avoid potential disruptions in areas with poor connectivity.
The bill, which introduces other electoral reforms, now heads toward harmonization with the House of Representatives’ version, which reportedly endorsed stronger real-time provisions.
Public pressure continues to mount, with groups urging the National Assembly to prioritize transparency and restore confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process for future polls..
Watch video of the plenary HERE
