RismadarVoice Reporters
February 8, 2026
The Nigerian Bar Association has called on the National Assembly to pass a proposed amendment to the Electoral Amendment Bill that would make the electronic transmission of election results from polling units mandatory.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, the NBA said its National Executive Council adopted a report presented by the NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), urging lawmakers to approve the amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the bill.
The NEC, which met in Maiduguri, Borno State, on February 5, 2026, said the report underscored the urgent need to compel electronic transmission of results in order to strengthen transparency, accountability and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to the NBA, the proposed amendment would require presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission to transmit election results electronically and in real time to the INEC Result Viewing Portal immediately after Form EC8A has been duly signed, stamped and countersigned by party agents.
The Association criticised the Senate’s decision to retain the existing provision in the Electoral Act, which allows results to be transmitted “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission,” warning that such discretionary wording weakens the legal framework for credible elections.
The NEC said the current phrasing leaves room for manipulation and ambiguity, stressing that “clear statutory compulsion, rather than discretionary wording, is essential to guaranteeing electoral transparency, protecting the integrity of votes cast, and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.”
Describing credible elections as the foundation of constitutional democracy, the NBA urged lawmakers to demonstrate legislative responsibility and statesmanship by voting in favour of the amendment compelling electronic transmission of results.
The Association also reaffirmed its commitment to sustained engagement and advocacy to ensure that Nigeria’s electoral laws reflect the will of the people as expressed at the ballot.
However, the Senate has dismissed claims that it removed provisions for electronic transmission of results. Senate President Godswill Akpabio described such reports as misleading, insisting that the 2022 Electoral Act still mandates presiding officers to transmit results electronically.
“This is misleading. Electronic transmission has not been removed from the law. The provision under the 2022 Electoral Act remains in force, and presiding officers are still required to transmit results electronically as prescribed,” Akpabio said.
He added that retaining the existing provision ensures legal and operational clarity while maintaining a secure and standardised process. The Senate Minority Caucus also maintained that lawmakers did not reject electronic transmission, stressing that the Upper Chamber’s actions are aimed at safeguarding transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral system.
