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 mandate the electronic transmission of election results from polling units.
The call was made following the adoption of a report presented by NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Maiduguri, Borno State, on February 5, 2026.
The report expressed concern over the Senate’s recent rejection of an amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3 of the Electoral Act. The amendment sought to require presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results in real time to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal immediately after Form EC8A was signed, stamped, and countersigned by party agents.
The NEC observed that the current discretionary language in the law, which allows presiding officers to “transfer the results in a manner as prescribed by the Commission,” weakens the legal foundation for transparent, real-time reporting.
“The ambiguity leaves room for manipulation, misinterpretation, and post-election disputes,” the council noted in its resolution.
In adopting Osigwe’s report, the NEC resolved that the National Assembly should urgently pass the proposed amendment to Clause 60(3) to clearly compel electronic transmission of results.
The council emphasized that explicit statutory requirements, rather than discretionary wording, are essential to safeguard electoral transparency, protect the integrity of votes, and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Highlighting the importance of credible elections, the NBA stated that continued resistance to enforceable electronic transmission measures undermines democratic accountability.
“Technology-backed transparency is no longer optional in a modern democracy,” the NEC stressed, urging lawmakers to align Nigeria’s electoral framework with global best practices.
The NBA reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing engagement and advocacy to ensure that Nigeria’s electoral laws clearly reflect the will of the people as expressed at the ballot box.
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