Senate’s Decision on Election Results Transmission: A Data-Driven Approach
The Senate has made a significant decision regarding the transmission of election results, opting for a discretionary approach rather than making it mandatory. This choice was based on extensive empirical data and an understanding of the country’s current infrastructure capabilities.
The upper chamber emphasized that its decision was grounded in the practical realities of the nation, not influenced by emotions or sentiments. This conclusion came after thorough consultations with key stakeholders in the communications and power sectors.
Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Leader of the Senate, clarified the position of the upper chamber through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs. He highlighted that law-making involves significant responsibilities globally, and the Senate cannot fulfill these duties at the expense of the citizens.
The Senate had previously resolved against Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Bill, 2026. This clause mandated that the presiding officer “shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time.” However, the Senate later revised this clause to strengthen electronic transmission while acknowledging potential challenges.
In the event of internet failure, Form EC8A will serve as the primary means of result collation. This adjustment ensures that the process remains robust even under adverse conditions.
Bamidele pointed out that Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Bill, 2026, is an initiative that many legislatures would typically support. It aims to enhance trust in democratic institutions, particularly the National Assembly and INEC. However, the Senate also considered the limitations of the country’s communication and power infrastructure.
Citing data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Bamidele noted that Nigeria achieved only about 70% broadband coverage in 2025, with Internet user penetration at 44.53% of the population. Additionally, the Speedtest Global Index ranked Nigeria 85th out of 105 countries in mobile network reliability and 129th out of 150 countries in fixed Internet broadband reliability.
He further explained that Nigeria’s mobile network reliability was 44.14 megabits per second, significantly lower than other nations such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Bulgaria. In terms of fixed internet broadband, Nigeria ranked 129th with only 33.32 mbps, far below global leaders like Singapore, UAE, France, Chile, and Hong Kong.
Bamidele also cited official data on the state of the power infrastructure, revealing that at least 85 million Nigerians lack access to grid electricity, which accounts for about 43% of the population. Despite a generation capacity between 12,000 and 13,500 megawatts, distribution and transmission capacity is limited, delivering only 4,500 megawatts to households nationwide. The Electricity Act, 2025, is expected to bring significant improvements in the coming financial year.
Given these infrastructural challenges, Bamidele questioned the feasibility of real-time electronic transmission of election results. He argued that making such a provision mandatory could lead to a crisis. According to global standards, real-time transmission may not be practical at this stage of development.
To avoid exacerbating existing issues, the Senate decided to make the transmission discretionary. Section 62(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, already established the National Electronic Register of Election Results, providing a viable alternative.
All these factors were considered before the Senate decided to retain Section 60(3 $ 5) of the Electoral Act, 2022, in the interest of the people and security. The data clearly reflects the stark realities of the federation, not driven by emotion or sentiment.
Lawmaking globally comes with significant responsibilities. As representatives of the people, the Senate cannot enact laws based purely on public emotion or sentiment. These obligations, as outlined by the Constitution, must be fulfilled without compromising the interests of the citizenry.
In democracy, law-making is central to public governance. It is the lifeblood that sustains all public institutions. It does not respond to mere emotion or sentiment but to facts, proofs, or realities that define or distort the future of the political system. If laws do not reflect the realities of the federation, they risk becoming scripts for anarchy or ploys for instability.
This reasoning guided the Senate’s decision to re-draft Clause 60(3 & 5) with a caveat. The deletion of “real time” from the clause ensures that the electoral governance framework can adapt to the nation’s current realities.
