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From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
The Youth-led Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) Consortium has expressed sadness over the Senate’s rejection of real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units, for the second time, during its emergency sitting on February 10 this year.
The valuable and nationally accepted amendment passed by the House of Representatives in December 2025 seeks to make real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units mandatory.
Unfortunately, the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly during its plenary on February 4, 2026 rejected the provision, preferring instead the manual process, which political analysts say gives room for electoral fraud.
This move by the Red Chamber sparked a nationwide outrage which prompted the Senate to convene an emergency sitting on February 10, during which they endorsed electronic transmission of the election results but added that manual means should be used if and wherever network failure occurs.
YERP-Naija, in a statement signed by its partners from the six geopolitical zones including Bukola Idowu, the Executive Director of KDI, Abuja who represents North Central, rejected this return to manual transfer of election results reintroduced into the Act by the Senate, arguing that it opens a window for electoral fraud.
Others who endorsed the statement were Israel Orekha, Executive Director, Connected Advocacy, Edo (South South); Ashraf Tukur, Executive Director, Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative, Yola (North East) and Nonso Orakwe, Executive Director, Catch Them Young Community Initiative, Awka (South East).
“The YERP-Naija Consortium believes that the provisions of section 60 (3) of the Electoral Act amendment bill passed by the Senate, which allows for a return to manual transfer of election results when technology fails, opens a window for electoral fraud,” it insisted.
“Individuals or groups with intentions to manipulate elections could leverage this provision to fake or cause internet connectivity problems in order to revert to the untrustworthy manual transfer process.”
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The group argued that internet connectivity across Nigeria has substantially improved over the years, and that there was still an opportunity to cover any existing dark spots before the 2027 general elections.
“Additionally, the BVAS can record the exact time stamps when a result was uploaded when there is no network and immediately transmits it to IREV once the network returns. This can prove that results were uploaded in real-time, even if they were not transmitted immediately.
The group, therefore, called on members of the National Assembly Electoral Act Amendment Bill Conference Committee to carefully consider the facts and put the country before political expediency.
“We call on the Conference Committee members to adopt the version of the bill passed by the House of Representatives last year, which limits human interference, manipulation, and electoral fraud through mandatory electronic transmission of election results in real-time.
“Nigerian youths support it, and INEC has already adopted and significantly deployed it for the 2023 general elections. What Nigerians are asking for is not new. Professional groups such as the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) have also given expert opinions that, indeed, mandatory transmission of election results in real-time can work during the 2027 elections.
“With the 2027 general elections approaching, it is imperative that the Electoral Act amendment bill and relevant constitutional amendment bills that impact the electoral process are passed in a timely manner to facilitate the conduct of credible elections.
“Delays or diluted provisions may constrain implementation timelines and undermine the impact of the amendment. Nigeria stands at a defining moment in its democratic journey.
“The outcome of the harmonisation process will shape public confidence in the electoral system and the legitimacy of future elections. The Electoral Act Amendment must ultimately strengthen, rather than weaken, the legal safeguards that protect the will of the electorate.
“The YERP-Naija Consortium remains committed to constructive engagement with lawmakers and stakeholders to advance electoral reforms that promote transparency, credibility, and inclusive democratic governance in Nigeria,” the group said.
