NBA Urges NASS to Mandate Electronic Transmission of Election Results
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the National Assembly to approve an amendment to the Electoral Amendment Bill that would compel the electronic transmission of election results from polling units.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, the NBA’s National Executive Council (NEC) said it adopted a report by NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) urging lawmakers to amend Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the bill.
NEC, which met in Maiduguri, Borno State, on February 5, 2026, said the report “highlighted the urgent need to mandate the electronic transmission of results to strengthen transparency and public confidence in elections.”
The NBA explained that the amendment would require presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results in real time to the INEC Result Viewing portal immediately after Form EC8A has been duly signed, stamped, and countersigned by party agents.
NEC criticised the Senate for retaining wording in the current Electoral Act that allows results to be transferred “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission,” describing it as weakening “the legal foundation for transparent elections and leaving room for manipulation and ambiguity.”
The council warned that discretionary phrasing in the law “undermines democratic accountability” and stressed that clear statutory compulsion is necessary to guarantee electoral transparency, protect the integrity of votes, and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
It further noted that credible elections are “the bedrock of constitutional democracy” and urged lawmakers to demonstrate “legislative responsibility and statesmanship” by approving the amendment.
Reaffirming its role in electoral advocacy, the NBA said it remains committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s electoral laws reflect the will of the people.
The Senate, however, dismissed claims that it had removed the electronic transmission requirement.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio described such reports as misleading, insisting that the 2022 Electoral Act still mandates presiding officers to transmit results electronically.
“This is misleading. Electronic transmission has not been removed from the law. The provision under the 2022 Electoral Act remains in force, and presiding officers are still required to transmit results electronically as prescribed,” he said.
The Senate Minority Caucus also stressed that lawmakers did not reject electronic transmission, noting that the Upper Chamber’s actions aim to safeguard transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
