The Nigerian Senate has passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following a rowdy session over Clause 60(3) concerning electronic transmission of election results.
The bill’s passage came after lawmakers voted 55-15 to retain the proviso allowing manual transmission of results in case of network failure.
The Senate had earlier rescinded its earlier amendment to reconsider the bill, citing concerns over the timing of the 2027 general elections and technical inconsistencies.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced a timetable fixing the 2027 general elections for February 2027, which stakeholders argued conflicts with the bill’s provisions.
The bill’s passage has sparked debate, with opposition senators arguing that the manual transmission proviso could undermine electoral transparency.
