Senate Clarifies Stance on Electronic Transmission of Election Results Amid Controversy

In a move to address growing public outcry and media reports suggesting otherwise, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, alongside other prominent senators, held a press conference on Thursday at the National Assembly, firmly denying claims that the Senate had rejected the electronic transmission of election results during the recent amendment to the Electoral Act. The clarification comes just a day after Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s explanation, which some lawmakers argue misrepresented the chamber’s decision.

Senator Abaribe, representing Abia South and a former Senate Minority Leader, led the briefing, flanked by notable figures including Senators Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto South), Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), and others from across party lines. The group, comprising about 13 senators, emphasized that the Senate had in fact approved “electronic transmission of results” under Section 60(3) of the amended bill, distinguishing it sharply from the “transfer of results” provision in the 2022 Electoral Act.

“We felt it necessary to clarify what happened yesterday to put the records straight,” Senator Abaribe stated during the press conference. “Yesterday, the Senate did not, I repeat, did not pass transfer of results, which was in the 2022 Act. What we passed, and which the Senate President himself clarified while sitting on his chair, is transmission of results.”

He further assured Nigerians on the honor of all present that both the Senate’s Electoral Committee, the Ad Hoc Committee, and discussions in the executive session unanimously agreed on electronic transmission. “We don’t want a law that is vague or open to misinterpretation. We want a law that is clear, concise, and unambiguous,” Abaribe added, stressing that the provision ensures transparency in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The controversy erupted following Wednesday’s plenary session where the Senate passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026. Initial reports suggested the chamber had retained the 2022 Act’s provisions without mandating real-time electronic transmission, sparking widespread criticism from civil society groups, opposition parties, and the public. Some senators have gone further, alleging that Senate President Akpabio may have altered or forged proceedings to downplay the transmission clause, a claim that has fueled tensions within the Red Chamber.

As earlier reported by NaijaChoice News, similar debates over electronic transmission plagued previous amendments to the Electoral Act, with former Senate President Ahmad Lawan facing backlash in 2023 for rulings perceived as undermining electoral reforms.

The minority caucus, in their statement, dismissed these recent reports as based on a “misunderstanding of the legislative process,” urging Nigerians to review video records of the session for confirmation. They vowed to monitor the bill closely until it reaches President Bola Tinubu for assent, ensuring the electronic transmission provision remains intact to bolster credibility in future polls.

This development highlights ongoing fractures in Nigeria’s legislative body over electoral integrity, with calls for greater transparency echoing from stakeholders.