Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s backing of the Senate’s decision to reject mandatory electronic transmission of election results has intensified debate over transparency and trust in Nigeria’s electoral system. Critics argue that removing the requirement for real-time digital transmission weakens safeguards designed to protect the integrity of the vote and leaves room for disputes and manipulation.
During consideration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026, the Senate voted down an amendment that would have compelled the electoral commission to transmit polling unit results electronically in real time. Instead, lawmakers retained language allowing the commission to determine the method of transmission at its discretion.
Amid the controversy,
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central publicly confirmed that she voted in favour of making electronic transmission mandatory. In a statement posted Thursday, she described the Senate’s decision to keep result transmission discretionary as a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic process, characterising the outcome as a “lethal assault” on electoral integrity.
Her position places her among a growing number of voices advocating for stronger legal safeguards in the handling of election results. Observers say the disagreement highlights a broader divide within the legislature over how best to guarantee credible elections and restore public confidence.
Attention now turns to the Conference Committee that will reconcile the Senate and House versions of the bill, where advocates hope provisions for mandatory electronic transmission could still be reinstated.
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