•Lalong, Aliero, Kalu, Moro, Balogun, Agbedi, Soli, and different lawmakers who will harmonise the invoice underneath strain
By Present ChapiOdekina, Abuja
Within the corridors of energy on the Nationwide Meeting, what ought to have been a routine harmonisation of the Electoral Act Modification Invoice has remodeled right into a defining second in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Nigeria’s fragile democratic confidence is as soon as once more underneath pressure following the Senate’s passage of amendments to the Electoral Act that cease in need of mandating stay digital transmission of election outcomes. This transfer has triggered outrage, renewed protests and pressing negotiations between the 2 chambers of the Nationwide Meeting.
With the 2027 common elections quick approaching, public strain, protests, threats of mass motion and vociferous calls for from civil society have thrown the legislative course of right into a tense nationwide focus.
On the centre of the storm is Clause 60(3) of the amended Electoral Act Invoice, which now supplies for each guide and digital transmission of outcomes however removes specific reference to “real-time” uploads from polling items a key reform many Nigerians think about vital to credible elections.
The Home of Representatives had earlier handed a model mandating direct, real-time digital transmission to the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) Consequence Viewing (IReV) portal.
The Home says the clause should mandate real-time digital transmission of outcomes; the Senate initially resisted which arrange a political firestorm.
The Senate, nevertheless, after public outcry, opted for a versatile mannequin, citing issues over attainable community failures throughout elections.
Convention Committee underneath strain
To resolve the disagreement, each chambers have constituted 12-member Convention Committee every to harmonise the invoice earlier than transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The Joint Convention Committee is to harmonise their variations of the invoice, a constitutional requirement earlier than remaining passage and presentation to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
From the Senate, a 12-member delegation was appointed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio throughout an emergency plenary session amid ongoing backlash.
The staff is chaired by Senator Simon Bako Lalong and consists of Senators Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Adamu Aliero, Orji Uzor Kalu, Abba Moro, Asuquo Ekpenyong and Aminu Iya Abbas, Tokunbo Abiru.
The Home of Representatives counterpart, additionally numbering 12, is chaired by Rep. Adebayo Balogun with members together with Reps Fred Agbedi, Sada Soli, Ahmadu Jaha, Iduma Igariwey Enwo, Saidu Musa Abdullahi and Dr. Zainab Gimba.
The balanced composition displays political priorities with each chambers in search of parity and a reputable consequence that may face up to public scrutiny.
Senate VS Home: The place they differ
The core divergence lies in how election outcomes are dealt with electronically.
In December 2025, the Home of Representatives handed a model of the invoice with an specific requirement that outcomes be uploaded electronically in actual time from polling items on to the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee’s IReV portal.
This reform, extensively championed by civil society teams, was meant to strengthen transparency and restrict manipulation.
However on February 4, 2026, the Senate eliminated the phrases “real-time” from the clause, insisting that digital transmission ought to stay obligatory in precept, however permitting for flexibility in implementation.
Critics argue this dilutes accountability and opens a again door to end result manipulation.
The Senate’s method sparked widespread outrage, resulting in protests, together with the #OccupyNASS demonstration in Abuja and warnings from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of nationwide industrial motion and election boycotts if the ultimate legislation doesn’t enshrine real-time uploads.
Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, defended the chamber’s posture: “We don’t do one thing that we simply get up, on impulse… you must be very thorough… It have to be so painstakingly accomplished that the issues… don’t repudiate no matter belief Nigerians have in our system.”
CSOs renew battle
In the meantime, civil society organisations such because the Youth-led Electoral Reform Venture (YERP-Naija) Consortium have blasted the Senate for undermining transparency by rejecting the Home’s clearer stance. “The refusal to make real-time digital transmission obligatory weakens statutory certainty and limits transparency safeguards,” stated YERP-Naija in an announcement.
CISLAC: Ambiguity opens door to rigging
Reacting sharply, the Govt Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Comrade Auwal Rafsanjani, accused the Senate of weakening electoral safeguards.
“I’m deeply saddened by what has occurred,” Rafsanjani instructed Sunday Vanguard.
“What was handed supplies for each guide and digital transmission however excludes stay transmission. The excuse is that there could also be no community throughout elections. However this argument doesn’t maintain water.”
He warned that the modification introduces harmful ambiguity into the authorized framework.
“Whenever you create uncertainty and lack of readability within the legislation, you open alternatives for manipulation. Many Nigerians see guide transmission as one of many main methods elections are rigged. What the Senate has accomplished is to offer with one hand and take with the opposite.”
Rafsanjani argued that just about all communities now have entry to community companies from one supplier or one other.
“To say there can be no community is solely an excuse to retain room for electoral fraud,” he added.
Nonetheless, he urged Nigerians to not disengage from the democratic course of.
“We might not get 100% reform instantly, however residents should stay vigilant. Register, vote, monitor the method and demand accountability. Democracy can’t thrive with out participation.”
INEC: Readability in legislation is vital
When contacted, a senior INEC official, who requested anonymity pending formal Fee briefing, stated the electoral physique would implement no matter framework the Nationwide Meeting finally passes however burdened the significance of legislative readability.
“The Fee’s place has at all times been that technological deployment have to be clearly backed by legislation,” the official stated.
“Digital transmission enhances transparency. Nonetheless, operational realities, together with connectivity challenges in sure terrains, should even be thought of. What’s most essential is that the legislation supplies readability and doesn’t create room for conflicting interpretations.”
INEC insiders say ambiguity in authorized drafting usually turns into the focus of post-election litigation.
Constitutional questions loom
A constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who spoke with Sunday Vanguard underneath anonymity, warned that the wording of the ultimate modification might face judicial scrutiny.
“The Structure vests INEC with the facility to organise, undertake and supervise elections,” he defined.
“If the Electoral Act introduces ambiguity relating to the mode of end result transmission, litigants might argue that such ambiguity undermines transparency and the constitutional proper of residents to take part in free and truthful elections underneath Part 14 and Part 153 learn collectively.
“The place the legislation is unclear, courts are sometimes pressured to interpret legislative intent. That’s dangerous in an election cycle. Ideally, the Nationwide Meeting ought to remove uncertainty now slightly than depart it to post-election tribunals.”
Mr Nwafor Ikechukwu, an Abuja-based authorized scholar, famous that twin transmission fashions, guide and digital, will not be unconstitutional per se, however change into problematic if the hierarchy between the 2 just isn’t clearly established.
“If guide outcomes contradict digital uploads, which one prevails? That query have to be settled within the legislation itself,” he stated.
Public belief at stake
Civil society teams, labour unions and youth actions have warned that weakening real-time digital transmission might erode voter-confidence forward of 2027.
The NLC has already threatened protests if the harmonised model fails to ensure credible safeguards.
Political analysts say the Convention Committee now faces a defining check: produce a reconciled draft that restores public belief or threat deepening cynicism about Nigeria’s electoral integrity.
What’s more likely to occur?
Based on Ikechukwu, a compromise, one which affirms digital transmission as the first mode whereas retaining guide backup in clearly outlined distinctive circumstances.
“Such a center floor might calm rapid tensions, however the harm to public confidence might already require important institutional reassurance”, he stated.
“For now, one reality is obvious: The battle over Clause 60(3) is now not merely legislative. It’s about belief. And as Nigeria inches towards 2027, the credibility of its democracy might effectively rely on how this second is resolved.
What occurs subsequent?
Because the Convention Committee convenes, all eyes are on how negotiators will reconcile these conflicting positions.
Political analysts say a number of outcomes are attainable:
Harmonised Actual-Time Clause – A compromise might undertake the Home’s wording on obligatory real-time transmission, placating civil society and labour strain.
Hybrid Mannequin – The committee may craft a center floor that prioritises digital transmission whereas permitting guide back-ups for technical failure language just like what the Senate has just lately signaled.
Senate’s Most well-liked Draft – If lawmakers resist full Home phrases, the ultimate model might retain flexibility for the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee, doubtlessly disappointing reform advocates.
Regardless of the excessive stakes, some consider it doesn’t finish with the electoral legislation.
“It isn’t nearly an election legislation,” stated, Henry Ojo, a senior civil society advocate. “It’s in regards to the credibility of our elections, belief in our course of, and the way forward for democracy in Nigeria.”
Whether or not the Convention Committee produces a harmonised invoice that bridges the divide might effectively decide whether or not Nigerians head into 2027 with renewed confidence or deepened cynicism in regards to the integrity of their poll field.
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