WED FEB 11 2026-theGBJournal| At an emergency plenary session on Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate reversed its earlier position rejecting electronic transmission of polling-unit results, and now proposes electronic transmission of polling-unit results to IReV after Results Form EC8A is signed.
However, the Senators added a condition that says that where electronic transmission fails, the signed Form EC8A remains the primary basis for collation and declaration.
The Senate had on February 4, 2026, passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill retaining the existing wording of Section 60 (3) of Electoral Act which contained no reference to electronic transmission of results.
The exclusion of the electronic transmission of results, sparked nationwide outrage, with many opposition party leaders and civil society organization members taking to the streets to protest the decision by the Senate to exclude what is considered an important piece of legislation that could protect the integrity of any election in the country.
The now approved revised version makes provision as follows:
-The Presiding officer shall electronically transmit each polling unit to IREV portal and such transmission shall be done after the prescribed Form EC-8A has been signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and/or countersigned by the candidates or their polling agents where available at the polling unit.
”Provided that if the electronic transmission of the result fails as a result of communication failure and it becomes impossible to transmit the result contained in form EC-8A signed and stamped by the presiding officer and/or countersigned by candidate or polling agents, where available at the polling unit, the form EC-8A form shall, in such a case be the primary source of collation and declaration of results.”
The Senate consequently re-constituted its Conference Committee on Harmonization of the Electoral Bill, and they are expected to meet with its counterpart in the Federal House of Representative.
The Senate named 12 Senators into the Conference Committee, with Senator Simon Lalong as Chairman.
Other members of the Committee are, Senator Abba Moro, Adamu Aliero, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Adeniyi Adegbomire, Orji Uzor Kalu, Tokunbo Abiru, Asuquo Ekpeyong, Tahir Monguno, Jibril Isah, Aminu Abass and Senator Peter Nwebonyi.
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