The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has said Nigeria is not yet technically prepared to sustain compulsory real-time electronic transmission of election results nationwide.
Bamidele made this known in a statement released on Sunday by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs. He said evidence available to the National Assembly indicates that nationwide real-time electronic upload of election results cannot be reliably guaranteed under the country’s current technical and power infrastructure.
His remarks followed the Senate’s consideration of Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Bill, 2026, which proposes that presiding officers at polling units must transmit election results electronically in real time to the results portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to Bamidele, while the Senate supports the use of electronic transmission of results, lawmakers resolved to retain alternative measures in situations where internet connectivity fails. He explained that under the Senate’s revised position, Form EC8A would serve as the primary document for collation whenever electronic transmission is not feasible.
The Senate Leader noted that although digital innovation remains vital to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process, the legislature cannot ignore prevailing infrastructural challenges. He described Clause 60(3) as an initiative that any legislature or parliament globally would ordinarily embrace, but stressed that Nigeria’s present environment makes its mandatory application difficult.
Bamidele cited data from the Nigerian Communications Commission showing that broadband coverage in Nigeria stood at about 70 per cent in 2025, while internet penetration covered only 44.53 per cent of the population.
He maintained that until challenges related to power supply, internet access, and network reliability are adequately addressed nationwide, enforcing compulsory real-time electronic transmission of election results would pose serious risks to the efficiency and credibility of the electoral process.
