Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory and a member of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, has addressed concerns over the ongoing Electoral Amendment Bill, assuring Nigerians that key reforms, including electronic transmission of results, remain intact.
The clarification comes after major opposition parties condemned the Senate’s rejection of a proposed amendment to Clause 70(3) of the Electoral Amendment Bill, which sought to make electronic transmission of election results compulsory.
In a statement on X (Formerly Twitter) on Friday, Kingibe said the National Assembly undertook an intensive and inclusive process in 2024 and 2025 to reform Nigeria’s electoral framework. The process involved public hearings, policy retreats, and consultations with INEC and civil society organizations.
The Senator said the resulting report is anchored on three pillars,”Electronic transmission of election results and real-time upload to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV); Recognition of three modes of party primaries—direct, indirect, and consensus; and Clearly defined election timelines to ensure orderly, credible polls.”
She added that an ad hoc Senate committee reviewed the report, and about 85% of Senators supported the electronic transmission of results.
“When this report was presented to the Senate, an ad hoc committee was constituted to review it.
“The committee’s recommendations were largely aligned with the original report. Notably, about 85% (percent) of Senators supported the electronic transmission of election results,” the lawmaker said.
Kingibe expressed concern over claims that the Senate had rejected these reforms or reverted to the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act. She said,“While the 2022 Act used the term ‘transfer’ of results, the committees, after careful deliberation, specifically recommended that the commission SHALL electronically transmit results and upload to the IREV in real time.
“These amendments are documented and still to be harmonised.”
Earlier, Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified the upper chamber’s position, saying the Senate did not reject electronic transmission entirely but retained 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.”
Kingibe explained that the harmonisation process between the Senate and the House of Representatives is ongoing, and a correspondence committee has been constituted to align both versions into a single final bill.
She stressed that the reform process is driven by a commitment to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, urging citizens to remain calm, engage actively, and hold their representatives accountable to ensure the final bill protects votes and democratic rights.
“We are your representatives. We are your voice. And your will must shape the laws that govern you,” she said
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