By SUNTV Global Channel | February 5, 2026
Nigeria’s major opposition parties—the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)—have jointly called on the National Assembly’s conference committee to override the Senate’s decision rejecting compulsory electronic transmission of election results.
The parties warned that the Senate’s move could undermine transparency and credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating the decision to allegedly retain loopholes for electoral manipulation.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, the opposition parties criticised the Senate’s passage of an amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 that excluded mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units, describing the decision as “retrogressive” and dangerous for Nigeria’s democracy.
According to the statement, the Senate—dominated by the APC—has taken a step capable of setting the country’s democratic process back by “several decades,” despite growing public demand for more transparent elections.
The parties noted that the Senate’s action has attracted widespread condemnation from Nigerians across political, ethnic, and religious divides, questioning the logic behind opposing election technology while the APC itself relies heavily on electronic systems for nationwide membership registration.
“We harbour no doubts about the intention of the All Progressives Congress, which is firmly in control of the National Assembly,” the statement read.
“They know Nigerians are fed up with them and are aware of the rejection that awaits them at the polls. That is why a free and fair election has become a threat.”
The opposition accused the ruling party of prioritising partisan interests over democratic integrity, arguing that instead of strengthening safeguards for credible elections, lawmakers were preserving vulnerabilities in the electoral system.
They also expressed disappointment that senators failed to rise above party loyalty to defend democracy, stressing that the legislature remains one of the most important symbols of the people’s will.
“As usual, they failed the people they are supposed to represent,” the parties stated.
Referencing past judicial rulings, including decisions of the Supreme Court, the opposition recalled that courts had previously held that the Electoral Act 2022 did not explicitly make electronic transmission mandatory—an omission they described as a dangerous legal gap that should have been urgently corrected by lawmakers.
Beyond legal considerations, the parties argued that compulsory electronic transmission of results would improve transparency, restore public confidence, and reduce post-election disputes. They warned that the Senate’s rejection had effectively pushed the country “back to square one.”
The PDP, ADC, and NNPP urged the National Assembly’s conference committee to adopt the position of the House of Representatives, which supports mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results.
Calling on lawmakers to act as statesmen rather than politicians focused on the next election cycle, the opposition appealed to the committee to align with the will of Nigerians.
“The ball is now in the court of the conference committee,” the statement concluded, warning against the passage of what they described as anti-democratic electoral laws.
