February 5, 2026 | SUNTV Global News
Opposition lawmakers in Nigeria’s National Assembly have dismissed claims that the Senate has scrapped real-time electronic transmission of election results, insisting that the critical provision remains firmly embedded in the amended Electoral Bill.
Leading the clarification, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and Aminu Tambuwal said the controversy surrounding Wednesday’s Senate proceedings was driven by misinformation and misinterpretation of legislative terminology.
The lawmakers stressed that while the Senate rejected electronic transfer of results as contained in the Electoral Act 2022, it explicitly retained and approved real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units—a distinction they described as deliberate and necessary to eliminate ambiguity.
Speaking on behalf of the opposition caucus, Senator Abaribe explained that the Senate’s decision was aimed at strengthening clarity in the law rather than weakening electoral transparency.
“Yesterday, the Senate did not—let me repeat—did not pass electronic transfer of results as contained in the 2022 Act,” Abaribe said.
“What the Senate passed is electronic transmission of results, and that clarification was made clearly by the Senate President himself.”
Abaribe noted that lawmakers had engaged in extensive consultations before the bill was passed, including a closed executive session convened to resolve contentious provisions and ensure consensus.
“We came here under the trust of our senatorial districts,” he said.
“The closed session allowed us to tidy up all sensitive issues so that when the bill came back to plenary, it could be passed without rancour.”
He further assured Nigerians that all relevant Senate committees—including the electoral committee and the ad-hoc committee—were aligned on Section 60(3) of the bill, which explicitly provides for real-time electronic transmission of results.
“I can assure Nigerians on my honour, and on the honour of all of us here, that there was total agreement on electronic transmission of results in real time,” Abaribe stated.
“We want a law that is clear, concise, unambiguous, and incapable of being misinterpreted.”
The opposition lawmakers warned that any future attempt to dilute or undermine the provision would seriously damage Nigeria’s democratic credibility and erode public trust in the electoral process.
In a statement shared on Facebook, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan described real-time electronic transmission as a vital safeguard against electoral manipulation.
“I support real-time electronic transmission of results,” the Kogi Central senator said.
“Any failure to retain this provision constitutes a lethal assault on Nigeria’s democracy.”
She emphasised that credible elections depend on transparency at every stage of voting, collation, and result declaration, insisting that Nigerians must be assured that their votes truly count.
Former Sokoto State governor and Senator, Aminu Tambuwal, also aligned with the position, stressing that Nigeria must sustain electoral reforms that reflect global democratic standards and evolving best practices.
The clarification comes amid intense national debate over proposed amendments to the Electoral Act, with civil society organisations, election observers, and democracy advocates urging lawmakers to prioritise transparency, accountability, and institutional credibility ahead of future elections.
