By Amofokhai Williams
The Nigerian Senate has appointed a 12-member committee to work alongside the House of Representatives in harmonizing proposed amendments to the Electoral Act, a development announced amid escalating public outcry over changes to election result transmission rules.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio revealed the committee during an emergency plenary session on Tuesday, highlighting the urgency of addressing electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The committee’s formation comes as tensions rise over the Senate’s recent rejection of a clause mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Critics argue that dropping this provision could open the door to electoral manipulation, echoing controversies from past polls where “network glitches” were cited as excuses for delays or irregularities.
The House of Representatives had earlier passed a version supporting mandatory electronic transmission, creating a rift that the joint committee aims to resolve.
The amendments have sparked widespread protests at the National Assembly gates, drawing high-profile participants and amplifying calls for transparent elections.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi joined demonstrators on Monday, emphasizing that “network excuses are no longer acceptable” and urging Nigerians to demand reforms to prevent future electoral disputes.
Obi, who has been vocal about the 2023 election’s alleged irregularities, stated, “We don’t want glitches again; real-time transmission ensures every vote counts.”
On Tuesday, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi also lent his support, engaging in a heated exchange with police at the protest site while advocating for the clause.
Amaechi argued that mandatory electronic transmission “will reduce deaths on election day” by minimizing violence tied to manual result collation.
He further alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) opposes the measure out of fear of fair competition, saying, “APC knows they can’t win without rigging.”
The controversy traces back to the Electoral Act 2022, which first introduced electronic transmission as an option to enhance credibility following disputed polls.
