The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is calling on the National Assembly to reconsider and approve a proposed amendment to the Electoral Amendment Bill that would require the electronic transmission of election results from polling units. This appeal follows discussions during the NBA’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Maiduguri, Borno State, on February 5, 2026.
NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, presented a report expressing concerns over the Senate’s recent rejection of an amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3. This amendment would have mandated 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 is signed, stamped, and countersigned by party agents.
The NEC highlighted that the existing discretionary language in the Electoral Act undermines the legal framework necessary for transparent, real-time reporting of results. The ambiguity surrounding the phrase “transfer the results in a manner as prescribed by the Commission” leaves opportunities for manipulation and post-election disputes.
In response, the NBA resolved to urgently push for the passage of the amendment to Clause 60(3), emphasizing the need for explicit statutory requirements to ensure electoral transparency and integrity. The council stated, “Technology-backed transparency is no longer optional in a modern democracy,” and urged Nigeria to align its electoral framework with global best practices.
The NEC underscored that credible elections are essential for a functioning democracy, and continued resistance to enforceable electronic transmission measures undermines democratic accountability. They urged lawmakers to act with responsibility and statesmanship in supporting the amendment.
