Electoral Reforms Intact, Electronic Transmission Still Stands – Senator Kingibe Assures Nigerians

Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory and a member of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, has reassured Nigerians that key provisions of the Electoral Amendment Bill, including electronic transmission of election results, remain firmly in place.
Kingibe’s clarification follows widespread criticism by major opposition parties over the Senate’s rejection of a proposed amendment to Clause 70(3) of the bill, which sought to explicitly make electronic transmission of results compulsory.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, the senator explained that the National Assembly undertook an extensive and inclusive reform process throughout 2024 and 2025, involving public hearings, policy retreats, and consultations with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and civil society organisations.
According to Kingibe, the resulting reform framework is built on three core pillars: mandatory electronic transmission of election results with real-time upload to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV); recognition of three modes of party primaries—direct, indirect and consensus; and clearly defined electoral timelines to guarantee orderly and credible elections.
She disclosed that an ad hoc Senate committee was later constituted to review the report, adding that its recommendations were largely consistent with the original proposals.
“When the report was presented to the Senate, an ad hoc committee was constituted to review it,” Kingibe said. “Notably, about 85 per cent of Senators supported the electronic transmission of election results.”
The lawmaker expressed concern over narratives suggesting that the Senate had abandoned the reform or reverted entirely to the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act.
“While the 2022 Act used the term ‘transfer’ of results, the committees, after careful deliberation, specifically recommended that the Commission shall electronically transmit results and upload them to the IREV in real time,” she said, noting that the amendments remain documented and pending harmonisation.
Earlier, Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified the position of the upper chamber, stating that the Senate did not reject electronic transmission outright but retained the existing wording of the Electoral Act, which allows the presiding officer to transfer results “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”
Kingibe explained that the harmonisation process between the Senate and the House of Representatives is still ongoing, with a correspondence committee already constituted to align both chambers’ versions into a single final bill.
She stressed that the reform process is guided by a commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and urged citizens to remain calm, actively engage the process and hold their representatives accountable.
“We are your representatives. We are your voice. And your will must shape the laws that govern you,” the senator said.