…the Senate “chose to live in the Stone Age” while the rest of the world embraces technology and modernisation,
LAGOS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Senate yesterday passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 after intense deliberations, but rejected a proposal to make electronic transmission of election results mandatory, a move critics say is crucial for credible elections in 2027.
The upper chamber turned down an amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, which would have required presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results electronically in real time to the IReV portal after signing Form EC8A. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, however, insisted that the existing electronic transmission system under the 2022 Act remains intact.
Under the retained provision, presiding officers will continue to transfer results, including total voter accreditation and ballot outcomes, as prescribed by INEC.
Other changes included rejecting a proposed 10-year jail term for buyers and sellers of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), retaining a two-year term instead, while increasing fines from N2 million to N5 million. The notice period for elections (Clause 28) was reduced from 360 to 180 days, and political parties now have 90 days, down from 180, to submit candidate lists and affidavits (Clause 29).
Smart card readers were replaced with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter verification under Clause 47, while the Permanent Voter Card remains the official identification at polling units. Clauses on ballot paper formats (Clause 44) were retained, and provisions on non-compliance (Clause 142) were struck out.
The bill will now be harmonised with the House of Representatives’ version before being sent to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Stakeholders Condemn Senate Move
The decision to reject mandatory real-time electronic results transmission drew strong condemnation. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described it as “a deliberate assault on electoral transparency” aimed at favouring incumbents and undermining public trust.
Labour Party (LP) spokesperson Ken Asogwa called the Senate’s action “retrogressive and anti-people,” questioning why lawmakers would amend the 2022 Act while discarding a key clause meant to strengthen electoral integrity.
APGA founder Chief Chekwas Okorie lamented that the Senate “chose to live in the Stone Age” while the rest of the world embraces technology and modernisation, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant in safeguarding their votes.
Similarly, the Turaki-led PDP described the decision as “shameful and unfortunate,” stressing that electronic transmission is vital for electoral sanctity and democratic consolidation. Former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George, expressed shock, saying the move “sends Nigeria back into the Stone Age” and called on the Senate to reconsider.
Senate President Akpabio countered the criticisms, stating that electronic transmission, as provided in the 2022 Act, was not removed. He said the media had misrepresented the vote and affirmed the Senate’s commitment to transparent elections.
INEC Prepares for 2027, Vows Voter Register Cleanup
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan said the commission is ready for the 2027 elections, even as it awaits the finalised legal framework. Speaking with media executives and civil society groups in Abuja, he confirmed that the timetable and schedule for the polls have been completed in compliance with the constitution and Electoral Act.
Amupitan stressed the need to protect the 93.4 million registered voters from irregularities such as duplicate entries, underage voters, and deceased registrants. To this end, INEC will conduct a nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise to strengthen the integrity of the register.
Preparations are also ongoing for the FCT Area Council elections on February 21, 2026, including mock accreditation in 289 polling units using BVAS devices. Bye-elections in Rivers and Kano states will also take place on the same day, while governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States are scheduled for June and August 2026, respectively.
Prof. Amupitan added that only a few of 171 new political associations met constitutional requirements, with successful associations to be announced soon. He called on media and civil society organisations to help combat voter apathy and to raise awareness against misinformation, vote buying, and hate speech.
