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The Nigerian Senate will hold an emergency plenary on Tuesday, amid mounting public outrage over the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026, particularly the alleged removal of the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The Nigeria Labour Congress warns of nationwide protests and possible election boycotts, accusing the Senate of undermining electoral credibility.
Civil society groups and activists, including the Movement for Credible Elections, condemn the decision as democratic sabotage and have announced a mass protest, “Occupy NASS,” in Abuja for Monday. The coalition is convened by prominent activists, including Ayuba Wabba, Dr Usman Bugaje, Femi Falana (SAN), Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Prof Pat Utomi, Ene Obi among others.
The House of Representatives’ Conference Committee on Harmonisation with the Senate is set to meet this week to resolve differences between the two chambers’ versions of the bill.
Clause 60(3), which would have required electoral officers to electronically transmit results directly from polling units to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal in real time, was rejected. The bill now retains the discretionary provision for transmission only after votes are counted and announced at polling units.
The Act was widely hailed for introducing reforms aimed at improving the credibility of elections, including clearer timelines for party primaries and provisions strengthening the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission, but allegations of inconsistencies between polling unit results and uploaded figures have further intensified calls for legislative clarity.
