As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, the debate over electoral reform is once again taking centre stage. At the heart of it is the Electoral Act 2022 (Amendment) Bill, a proposal many believe could shape the credibility of the next polls.
The urgency for reform is rooted in the controversy of the 2023 presidential election, where polling unit results were not uploaded in real time to INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal, raising suspicion about the integrity of the results. Although the Supreme Court later ruled that electronic transmission was not legally mandatory under the 2022 Act, many Nigerians felt the law needed to be clearer to prevent similar disputes in the future.
In response, lawmakers moved to amend the Act to make real-time electronic transmission compulsory.
On February 10, 2026, the Senate finalised its position on the bill after days of public protests and debate involving top political brass including Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi.
The Senate agreed that the polling unit results should be transmitted electronically. However, it added an important clause, stating that if technology fails or transmission becomes impossible, the manual result sheet (Form EC8A) will take precedence.
Stakeholders describe this as a proactive step necessary to ensure the continuity of the electoral process against any potential network failure or cyber threats during the upcoming polls. However, many Nigerians see it as a loophole that could undermine transparency.
Dengiyefa Angalapu of the Centre for Democracy and Development argues that the concern is not just about technology, but about trust. A high proportion of Nigerians fear that any legal ambiguity could be exploited, especially given past experiences with electoral disputes.
Dengiyefa Angalapu, a research analyst at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), argues that the amendment falls short of public expectations.
According to Angalapu, the issue goes beyond technology. He stated that the fundamental challenge is the integrity of political stakeholders.
“The fundamental challenge is that Nigerians know their politicians and do not trust them. Over the years, political actors have consistently exploited loopholes in the system….This is definitely not what civil society advocated for. We wanted a firm and unambiguous process in which electronic transmission is compulsory, without exceptions” – Angalapu
He warns that any legal ambiguity allowing a return to manual collation may be misused, just as the 2023 transmission failure became the central point of dispute up to the Supreme Court.
What Nigerians are demanding
- 1. Mandatory Electronic Transmission Without Exceptions.
They want the electronic result captured at the polling unit to be the final legal authority. Rather than creating escape clauses, they argue the law should compel INEC to strengthen its infrastructure. - 2. Removal of Discretionary Powers.
Many voters believe the main problem is not the absence of technology but the “human factor” in result collation. As Angalapu notes, technology still reflects the integrity of those who design and operate it. - 3. Strict and Transparent Failure Protocols.
If manual backup must exist, citizens want clearly defined, transparent, and legally verifiable procedures outlining when and how it can be activated.
The bill has been passed to a joint conference committee made up of members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives to be harmonised.
One question lingers, as the legislative process continues. Will the amended law protect voters, or preserve loopholes for political actors?
