Ireti Kingibe, the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, has rejected the accusations that the Nigerian Senate purposely declined to pass into the law a provision that would have mandated real-time electronic transmission of election results.

In a statement on Friday amid heavy backlash after the upper chamber removed the provision requiring electronic transmission of election results while passing the latest electoral act on Wednesday, Ms Kingibe claimed the provision was only set aside for both the Senate and the House of Representatives to harmonise the section.

“It is, therefore, concerning to see widespread reports suggesting that the Senate rejected these reforms or reverted to the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act. This claim is inaccurate. While the 2022 Act used the term “transfer” of results, the committees after careful deliberation, we specifically recommended that the commission SHALL electronically transmit results and upload to the IREV real time, these amendments are documented are still to be done,” the statement said.

“At this stage, the harmonisation process between the Senate and the House of Representatives is still to be done. A correspondence committee has been constituted to align both versions into a single final bill.. Although the bill has passed third reading, the final harmonised version is yet to be concluded.”

On Friday, members of the Obedient Movement, a pro-Peter Obi political group, led by activist Aisha Yesufu, protested on the streets of Abuja, demanding that the Senate must revise its decision and pass the bill that will ensure live transmission of results on election day.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio was accused of doctoring the country’s electoral act by announcing the rejection of the proposed amendment to make electronic transmission of election results compulsory after the Nigerian Senate had on Wednesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal & Enactment) Bill, 2026.

The statement further disclosed that the National Assembly has been working on the electoral bill with a joint committee of the Independent National Electoral Commission and civil society group since 2024, adding that the committee’s report, which included real-time transmission of results, was supported by 85 per cent of the senators. 

“The report was anchored on three clear and deliberate pillars: Electronic transmission of election results and real-time upload to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV), to enhance transparency, credibility, and public confidence in elections, recognition of three modes of party primaries which were direct, indirect, and consensus, providing political parties with flexibility within a clearly regulated framework and Clearly defined election timelines that work effectively for INEC, political actors, and the Nigerian people, ensuring orderly, transparent, and credible elections,” the senator noted.

“When this report was presented to the Senate, an ad hoc committee was constituted to review it. The committee’s recommendations were largely aligned with the original report. Notably, about 85% (percent) of Senators supported the electronic transmission of election results.”