The Pathfinder
Wednesday February 11, 2026
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The Senate on Tuesday approved the electronic transmission of election results to be used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in all elections but with a significant caveat: manual collation will remain the primary backup where technology fails.
The decision followed an emergency plenary session convened to reconsider a contentious clause in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026.
Under the reviewed Section 60, Subsection 3, presiding officers at polling units are required to electronically transmit results to the IReV portal.
However, this must only occur after the prescribed Form EC8A has been duly signed and stamped by the presiding officer and countersigned by candidates or party agents, where available.
Crucially, the amendment introduces a “communication failure” proviso. If electronic transmission becomes impossible due to network challenges or other technical glitches, the physical manual result sheet (Form EC8A) will serve as the primary basis for the final collation and declaration of results.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, explained that the motion was a rescission of an earlier decision reached by the chamber during its previous sitting.
“The presiding officer shall electronically transmit the results… after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped,” Akpabio stated, reading the amended text.
Addressing potential critics within the chamber, he added: “Provided that if the electronic transmission fails as a result of communication failure… the Form EC8A shall in such a case be the primary source of collation and declaration of results.”
When the motion was put to a voice vote, Akpabio urged dissenting lawmakers to formally move a counter-motion rather than merely expressing disapproval. “If you disagree, move your counter-motion. So, if you agree, you agree with me when I put the votes,” he remarked.
The adoption of the manual backup clause has already triggered a wave of concern among civil society organizations and opposition figures. Critics argue that allowing manual results to supersede electronic data creates a “legal loophole” that could be exploited for manipulation, particularly in rural areas with poor telecommunications infrastructure.
The Senate, however, maintains that the provision provides “operational realism,” ensuring that elections are not stalled by technical difficulties beyond INEC’s control.
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