By Chimdiogo Amuh 

 The Senate has passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 but rejected a proposal to make electronic transmission of election results mandatory, a move that has triggered widespread criticism from opposition parties and pro-democracy stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The bill was passed after its third reading during a marathon plenary session. Lawmakers voted down an amendment to Clause 60(3) that sought to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit polling unit results electronically to the IReV portal in real time.

Instead, the Senate retained the existing provision in the 2022 Act, which allows results to be transmitted “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, however, denied claims that the Senate rejected electronic transmission outright, insisting that the provision for electronic transmission remains in the law as applied in the 2022 elections.

 “This Senate has not rejected electronic transmission of results. What we did was to retain the provision already in the Act,” Akpabio said.

Key Amendments Approved

The Senate also:

Rejected a proposed 10-year jail term for buying and selling Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), retaining a two-year sentence while increasing the fine from ₦2 million to ₦5 million.

Reduced the notice period for elections from 360 days to 180 days.

Cut the deadline for submission of candidates’ lists by political parties from 180 days to 90 days before elections.

Replaced smart card readers with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) but retained PVCs as the sole means of voter identification.

Struck out Clause 142, which would have allowed documentary evidence alone to prove non-compliance in election petitions.

Opposition, Stakeholders React

The decision sparked strong reactions from the Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and other political figures.

Atiku described the Senate’s action as “a deliberate assault on electoral transparency,” accusing lawmakers of protecting incumbents and undermining public trust in democracy.

The Labour Party called the move a “betrayal of Nigerians,” while APGA founder, Chief Chekwas Okorie, said the Senate was dragging the country “back to the Stone Age.”

Similarly, PDP chieftain Chief Bode George described the rejection as “shocking and shameful,” urging lawmakers to embrace technology to ensure credible elections.

INEC Speaks

Meanwhile, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed that the commission has finalised the timetable for the 2027 general elections based on the existing law, while urging the National Assembly to expedite legislative action.

He also announced plans for a nationwide voter revalidation exercise to sanitise the voters’ register, stressing that “dead men don’t vote.”

INEC further confirmed preparations for the February 21, 2026 FCT Area Council elections, including BVAS configuration and a mock accreditation exercise.

Next Steps

The Electoral Act Amendment Bill will now be harmonised with the House of Representatives’ version before being transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.