The Nigerian Senate was thrown into a heated and dramatic session on Tuesday, 17th February,2026 as lawmakers clashed over a key provision of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, eventually voting 55 to 15 to retain manual collation as a backup to electronic transmission of election results ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The controversy centred on Clause 60 of the bill, which addresses how results from polling units are authenticated and finalised.
After hours of tense debate marked by sharp exchanges, objections and a brief walkout, the Red Chamber resolved that while electronic transmission of results will remain approved, manual documentation using Form EC8A will serve as the final fallback where technology fails.
Leading the opposition was Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), who argued that allowing manual collation weakens electoral credibility. He insisted that real-time electronic transmission should be mandatory without any alternative.
However, the majority of the lawmakers, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, defended the backup option, citing technological uncertainties and the need to protect votes in areas with poor connectivity.
Akpabio, while commending both camps, told the chamber that “Elections are won and lost at polling units, not at collation centres.”
The amendment was revisited following concerns surrounding preparations for the 2027 elections and debates triggered by announcements from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding election timelines and procedures.
From the outside of the National Assembly complex are some civil society groups under the Occupy National Assembly movement staged protests, warning lawmakers against any move they believe could undermine electoral transparency.
The demonstrators urged the Senate to prioritise fully electronic transmission to strengthen public confidence in future elections.
With the Senate’s decision, it means electronic transmission remains recognised while the Manual Form EC8A becomes the decisive record if technology fails and the amendment now moves to further legislative processes.
Political observers opined that the development may shape the credibility debate ahead of the 2027 general elections, even as speculation continues over whether election dates could still be adjusted.
