Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has defended the decision to retain both electronic and manual transmission of election results in the amended Electoral Act, stating that the measure aims to prevent voter disenfranchisement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in Abuja while receiving the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Felix Costales, on a courtesy visit, Abbas explained that lawmakers opted for a hybrid framework after assessing infrastructural limitations across the country. He said reliance on a single digital system could exclude a significant segment of the electorate.
The Speaker referred to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), indicating that approximately 40 per cent of Nigeria’s landmass lacks sufficient internet coverage. He argued that restricting result transmission to electronic platforms alone would reduce participation and potentially discourage voters in underserved areas.
“Now, if we are to introduce (only) the electronic system, it will further reduce the number because 40 per cent of the country will probably not be able to vote as they don’t have adequate internet services. It means what we should be expecting is not only disenfranchising the voters, denying some people the right to vote, but we will also record, perhaps, the lowest number of voters in the next elections. These are all avoidable. That is why, in our wisdom, we said the Electoral Act should be a hybrid, combining both manual and electronic systems. Where it is feasible to use the electronic transmission, use the electronic transmission; where it is not possible, use the manual, because there is no way one form, particularly the electronic, can be used entirely in all parts of the country for the elections.”
The Senate had earlier endorsed electronic transmission of results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s viewing portal, while also providing that Form EC8A would serve as a contingency where technical failures occur. Lawmakers adopted the resolution during an emergency plenary session in the Federal Capital Territory.
Abbas maintained that the dual approach would help curb voter apathy and safeguard broader participation, especially in rural and remote communities where connectivity remains unreliable.
The debate over result transmission has generated political reactions. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticised the Senate’s earlier stance rejecting compulsory real-time electronic transmission from polling units. He described the move as detrimental to transparency and urged citizens, civil society organisations and the media to sustain pressure for electoral reforms before 2027.
Tensions also surfaced within the upper chamber during deliberations on the Electoral Act amendment. Proceedings became heated when senators revisited provisions relating to electronic transmission. Tahir Monguno moved a motion seeking reconsideration of a previous decision, while Enyinnaya Abaribe briefly called for a division before withdrawing his request.