The Senate has rejected a proposed amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3 of the Electoral Amendment Bill that sought to make the electronic transmission of election results compulsory.
According to Channels Television, the amendment would have required presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically transmit results from each polling unit to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal in real time. The transmission was to occur immediately after Form EC8A had been duly signed, stamped, and countersigned by party agents.
However, lawmakers voted to retain the existing provision of the Electoral Act, which states that: “The presiding officer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot, in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”
By rejecting the amendment, the Senate maintained INEC’s discretion to determine the method of transmitting election results, rather than mandating electronic transmission by law.
The decision preserves operational flexibility for the electoral body as it continues to explore technological and administrative options aimed at improving efficiency and credibility in result management ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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