SMBLF, NGE, Agbakoba demand mandatory real-time transmission of election results

2026-02-09 - 19:08

By Nwafor Sunday & Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo Kaduna/Lagos — Three prominent groups and individuals have intensified calls for the National Assembly to enshrine mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum (SMBLF) on Monday demanded that Clause 60 of the proposed 2026 Electoral Amendment Bill, already passed by the House of Representatives, be retained. The forum warned that any attempt to discard the provision could erode Nigeria’s democratic foundations. In a statement signed by SMBLF leader Oba Oladipo Olaitan, Middle Belt Forum President Dr. Bitrus Pogu, Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General Senator John Azuta-Mbata, and PANDEF National Chairman Ambassador Godknows Igali, the group emphasized that credible elections are the bedrock of democratic governance. The SMBLF cited the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as an effective tool for real-time monitoring of polling unit results, reducing manipulation and post-election disputes. The forum expressed alarm over reports that the Senate had tampered with the final version of the bill by removing the clause mandating real-time transmission, calling the development “unacceptable in a democratic legislature.” “The law must be clear, firm and mandatory,” the statement said, recalling the 2023 presidential election litigation where the Supreme Court relied on Section 60(5) of the 2022 Electoral Act, which made electronic transmission optional, a loophole the forum insisted must not recur. Nigerian Guild of Editors Backing the demand, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) also criticized the Senate’s stance on transmission of results, warning that making it optional could undermine public trust and voter participation. In a statement signed by President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh, the NGE called on the National Assembly to harmonize the Senate’s position with that of the House of Representatives and approve mandatory, immediate transmission of results from polling units to INEC’s central servers and collation centres. “This decision would lay a solid foundation for free and fair elections and help deepen democracy,” the guild said, stressing that digitalized elections enhance transparency, accuracy, and voter confidence while reducing disputes and curbing electoral fraud. Olisa Agbakoba Adding his voice, prominent human rights lawyer Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, urged lawmakers to enshrine mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act. He described recurring election disputes as the result of “persistent legal uncertainty” and warned that repeated amendments to the Electoral Act have failed to provide statutory backing for electronic transmission. Agbakoba noted that the Supreme Court ruled the IReV portal lacked legal force during the 2023 elections because electronic transmission was not explicitly provided for in the Electoral Act 2022. He argued that this gap imposes an “insurmountable evidentiary burden” on election petitioners and perpetuates protracted litigation and democratic uncertainty. Citing the June 12, 1993 election as a benchmark for transparency, Agbakoba called for combining immediate verification of results at polling units with modern electronic tools to ensure efficient, secure, and verifiable elections. “The current legislative process represents a monumental opportunity for the National Assembly to resolve this fundamental issue before the 2027 general elections,” he said. “Without this amendment, we risk repeating the same cycle of disputed elections and damaged democratic credibility.” The three calls collectively stress that mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results is essential to safeguard the will of Nigerians, reduce electoral malpractice, enhance transparency, and restore public confidence in the democratic process.