Senator Seriake Dickson from Bayelsa West has expressed his disapproval of a recent decision made by the Nigerian Senate regarding the Electronic Transmission of election results. His primary concern revolves around a caveat added to the revised Electoral Act, which states that in the event of internet failure, Form EC8A will be the primary method for collating election results. Dickson argues that this provision undermines the integrity of the electoral process by compromising the push for mandatory electronic transmission of results, a measure he believes is essential for transparency and trust in the electoral system.

During discussions on the matter, Dickson emphasized that there was a prior consensus among lawmakers to support an earlier version of the Electoral Act proposed by the House of Representatives, which mandated electronic transmission of results directly from polling units. However, he lamented that this agreement was altered during the plenary session, highlighting a divergence between the initial intentions of the lawmakers and the final legislative outcomes.

The implications of this decision are significant, as it reflects ongoing tensions within the Nigerian political landscape regarding electoral reform and transparency. By allowing manual processes to supersede electronic methods in cases of internet outages, critics fear this could lead to manipulation and mistrust among voters. Dickson's stance represents a growing concern among politicians and civil society organizations pushing for reforms that would enhance electoral integrity in Nigeria, as the nation prepares for future elections.