The Senate has passed the Electoral Bill 2026 after extensive debate, retaining electronic transmission of results but rejecting a proposal that would have made real-time uploading from polling units mandatory.
At the heart of the debate was Section 60 of the bill, which deals with the transmission of results.
Lawmakers voted against a recommendation that presiding officers must upload polling unit results instantly to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
Instead, they maintained the existing provision in the 2022 Electoral Act, which allows results to be transmitted electronically after they are counted and publicly declared at the polling unit.
The decision sparked criticism from opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which described the move as a setback for transparency and electoral credibility.
INEC also disclosed that it has completed work on the timetable for the 2027 general elections but cannot release it until the National Assembly concludes amendments to the Electoral Act.
The commission further announced plans for a nationwide verification of the voters’ register following the discovery of names of deceased persons and other irregularities.
Under the retained provisions, presiding officers must count votes at polling units, record results on official forms, announce them publicly and transmit them electronically to collation centres.
Copies are also to be given to party agents and security personnel where available, while offenders risk fines of up to N500,000 or at least six months’ imprisonment.
Senators who opposed real-time electronic transmission argued that poor network coverage and logistical constraints could lead to disputes and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
Senate spokesperson Adeyemi Adaramodu maintained that electronic transmission remains part of the law and that results will continue to be available through both digital and physical means.
Beyond the controversy over transmission, the Senate approved key changes to the electoral timetable.
The notice period for elections was reduced from 360 days to 180 days, while the deadline for submission of candidates’ lists was shortened from 120 days to 90 days.
The nomination window was also cut from 180 days to 90 days.
To curb electoral offences, the Senate increased the fine for unlawful possession of voter cards from N500,000 to N5 million but rejected a proposal for a 10-year ban on vote-buying, opting instead for stricter financial penalties.
The smart card reader was formally removed from the legal framework and replaced with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which remains the primary tool for voter verification.
Lawmakers also rejected a proposal to allow electronically generated voter identification, insisting on the continued use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for accreditation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified that electronic transmission had not been removed from the law, stressing that retaining the provision ensures results will still be transmitted electronically as prescribed by INEC.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the delay in releasing the 2027 timetable was due to ongoing legislative amendments.
He assured Nigerians that the schedule would be unveiled in line with constitutional and legal requirements.
The commission also raised concerns about the integrity of the voters’ register, citing the presence of deceased individuals and discrepancies discovered after reviewing data from the Anambra off-cycle governorship election.
According to INEC, the planned verification exercise will remove dead voters, correct data errors and strengthen the credibility of the register ahead of the 2027 polls.
Reacting to the Senate’s decision, the PDP described the rejection of mandatory real-time transmission as disappointing and contrary to public expectations, insisting that direct electronic upload of polling unit results would enhance transparency and protect the electoral process.
