Feb 11 β€’ 05:38 UTC 🌍 Africa AllAfrica

Nigeria: Senate Adopts Electronic, Manual Transmission of Election Results

The Nigerian Senate has amended its resolution to allow both electronic and manual transmission of election results, enabling the use of manual methods if electronic transmissions fail.

The Nigerian Senate has recently reversed its earlier decision to reject the real-time electronic transmission of election results, now permitting both electronic and manual transmission methods. This decision came during an emergency plenary session held in Abuja, where the Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno, moved a motion that was subsequently seconded by the Minority Leader, Abba Moro. The revised amendment states that electronic transmission will be the primary method, but if it fails, manual collation via form EC8A will serve as a backup.

The resolution is part of the Senate's considerations surrounding the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026, emphasizing the importance of secure and reliable methods for sharing election results. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the updated amendment during the session, emphasizing transparency and efficiency in the election process. The motion reflects the ongoing debates about electoral reforms in Nigeria, particularly regarding how to ensure credibility within the voting system.

This amendment comes at a crucial time as Nigeria prepares for upcoming elections, with many stakeholders underscoring the necessity for technology in the electoral process to enhance transparency. The dual system of electronic and manual results transmission aims to bolster the integrity of the electoral process and address concerns about potential technical failures during elections. Overall, the Senate's decision illustrates the balancing act between innovation and reliability in contemporary Nigerian governance.

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