SenateMakes E-Results Transmission Discretionary Over Infrastructure Gaps
The Nigerian Senate has decided to make the electronic transmission of election results discretionary rather than mandatory, citing the country's inadequate communication and power infrastructure. This decision reverses Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Bill, 2026, which required real-time electronic transmission to INEC's Result Viewing Portal (IReV). The Senate cited data showing Nigeria's broadband coverage at only 70% and Internet penetration at 44.53% of the population, with mobile network reliability ranking 85th globally (44.14 Mbps) and fixed broadband at 129th (33.32 Mbps). Power infrastructure remains critical, with 85 million Nigerians lacking grid access despite 12,000-13,500 MW generation capacity. The Senate argues that mandatory electronic transmission could cause a crisis, proposing Form EC8A as an alternative. This change follows demonstrations by opposition leaders like Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi, who opposed the clause. The Senate maintains this decision prioritizes practical realities over emotion, emphasizing that lawmaking must address Nigeria's infrastructural constraints to avoid instability.