The House of Representatives has retained the manual transmission clause in the amended Electoral Act, maintaining the option for manual collation of election results rather than mandating real-time electronic transmission, the Speaker of the House said on Wednesday.
The National Assembly has been considering amendments to the Electoral Act with the aim of updating Nigeria’s electoral legal framework, including provisions on results collation and transmission.
A key area of debate has been whether to mandate electronic real-time transmission of results from polling units to collation centres.
Proponents of the real-time transmission clause have argued it could improve transparency in the electoral process, while others have emphasised the need for flexibility given infrastructural and logistical realities across the country.
During Wednesday’s plenary, the House considered a clause that would require real-time electronic transmission of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
After debate, the House voted to retain the existing provision that allows for manual collation and transmission of results, rather than mandating automatic real-time electronic transmission of results.
Lawmakers engaged in a rowdy session as the issue was debated, with some members expressing strong support for maintaining manual transmission, while others argued for prioritising real-time transmission technologies.
The Speaker of the House, Abuja-based Representative Abbas Tajudeen, guided the proceedings and confirmed that the manual transmission option would remain part of the Act, and that details of the final wording would be reflected in the consolidated bill before it for final third reading.
The Speaker said the decision reflects the House’s position on balancing technological advances with practical considerations across Nigeria’s diverse electoral landscape.
He noted that the bill will be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence after the House completes its reading and final amendments.
Retaining manual transmission provisions means that the amended Electoral Act will continue to permit collation of election results without compulsory real-time electronic transmission, leaving discretion with INEC on tools and methods.
This may influence how election results are transmitted and collated during the 2027 general elections.
The House’s decision reflects ongoing legislative deliberations about the appropriate mix of technology and traditional methods in Nigeria’s electoral process, especially given infrastructure disparities across states and constituencies.
