Youth groups condemn rejection of transmission of election results by Senate

2026-02-07 - 07:48

By Godwin Oritse Two youth groups, Connected Advocacy and the Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP) have slammed the Senate for rejecting the mandatory transmission of election results, calling the action a historic betrayal of public trust. In a joint statement, Prince Israel Orekha, Executive Director of Connected Advocacy and Coordinator of YERP-Naija South-South, said Nigerians are deeply troubled by the Senate’s rejection of the Electoral Act amendment on mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results, describing it as a betrayal that must be corrected. The amendment was passed by the House of Representatives in December 2025 to strengthen transparency and accountability. According to Orekha, mandatory real-time transmission of election results remains the top electoral reform demand of youths and citizens in the South-South and across Nigeria. Orekha said:”We know this first-hand because the YERP-Naija Campaign consulted youth in all 36 states of the federation and the FCT through surveys and face to face e engagements, and attended all of the public hearings by the Joint National Assembly Committee on Electoral Matters, and the Senate and House. “Constitutional Review Committees. Nigerian youth and other citizens spoke out during all of these fora in clear and unmistakable terms, saying “Give Us Mandatory Electronic Transmission of Election Results in Real-Time” to restore public confidence in the electoral process. “How did we get here? We arrived at this point following widespread dissatisfaction with the conduct of the 2023 general elections, during which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to electronically transmit presidential election results in real time, despite being partially empowered to do so under the 2022 Electoral Act and, more specifically, its own guidelines. He noted that subsequent judgements by election petitions tribunals and appellate courts held that because real-time electronic transmission of election results was not expressly provided for in the 2022 Electoral Act but only contained in INEC guidelines, it could not be relied upon in determining whether elections complied with the law. According to him, this position pushed many Nigerians to simply say, “Then put it in the law.” “This request was loudly communicated across the country by youth and others. We believe that is why the House of Representatives passed it in December, 2025. South-south youth and others across Nigeria feel deeply betrayed by the position of the National Assembly to retain the vague 2022 Electoral Act provision that simply says it is up to INEC to determine ways to “tranfer” election results. It is worthy to note that giving such powers to an electoral body that does not currently inspire public confidence, could lead to greater public mistrust and apathy. “We call on youth across the south-south and Nigeria at large to reach out to their legislators on the importance of including the Mandatory Transmission of Election Results in Real-Time, as passed by the House of Representatives, in the Electoral Act “We call on our Senators and members of the House of Representatives here in Edo state, across the South-South and Nigeria at large, to stand with their constituents. Standing with their constituents means voting for the Mandatory Transmission of Election Results in Real-Time as earlier passed by the House of Representatives. “Specifically, we call on the Conference Committee set up by both chambers of the National Assembly to harmonize the versions of the Electoral Act separately passed by both chambers, to retain the Mandatory Transmission of Election Results in Real-Time as passed by the House in December 2025. “We respectfully call on the National Assembly to immediately pass the constitutional amendment bills that have been under legislative consideration in the last two years. Especially those that impact the electoral process, such as the conclusion of election petitions before swearing in, and the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission. “We call on eminent Nigerians, statesmen and women, the clergy, traditional rulers, political parties, and scholars to add their voices to our call for genuine electoral reforms, especially including Mandatory Transmission of Election Results in Real-Time, as passed by the House in the Electoral Act.” Orekha stated.