By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the National Assembly to reconsider and approve a proposed amendment to the Electoral Amendment Bill that would make the electronic transmission of election results from polling units mandatory.
The call followed the adoption of a report presented by the NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, at the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on February 5, 2026, in Maiduguri, Borno State.
In the report, the NBA expressed concern over the Senate’s recent rejection of an amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Act, which sought to compel presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit election results in real time to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal immediately after Form EC8A is duly signed, stamped, and countersigned by party agents.
The NEC observed that the current provision of the law, which allows presiding officers to “transfer the results … in a manner as prescribed by the Commission,” leaves the process discretionary and weakens the legal framework for transparent and real-time result reporting.
According to the council, the ambiguity in the existing provision creates room for manipulation, misinterpretation, and post-election disputes.
By adopting Osigwe’s report, the NEC resolved that the National Assembly should urgently pass the proposed amendment to Clause 60(3) to explicitly mandate electronic transmission of results. It stressed that clear statutory requirements, rather than discretionary language, are necessary to safeguard electoral transparency, protect the integrity of votes, and restore public confidence in the electoral process.
The council further noted that credible elections are fundamental to democratic governance, warning that continued resistance to enforceable electronic transmission measures undermines accountability.
“Technology-backed transparency is no longer optional in a modern democracy,” the NEC said, urging Nigeria to align its electoral framework with global best practices.
The NBA also called on lawmakers to demonstrate legislative responsibility and statesmanship by supporting the amendment, while reaffirming its commitment to sustained advocacy to ensure that electoral laws reflect the true will of the electorate as expressed at the polls.
