The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has asked the national assembly to reverse the senate’s position on the Electoral Act amendment bill and include a provision making the electronic transmission of election results mandatory.
In a statement on Saturday, the national executive council (NEC) of the NBA said it adopted this position after considering a report presented by Afam Osigwe, president of the association, at its February 5 meeting in Maiduguri, Borno state.
The NBA’s stance comes amid intense public debate over the senate’s handling of the Electoral Act amendment bill.
On Wednesday, the senate retained the provision for electronic transfer of election results as contained in the Electoral Act 2022.
During the consideration of the bill, the red chamber also rejected proposals for real-time results transmission and a 10-year ban on vote buyers, opting instead to maintain existing sanctions of fines or jail terms.
However, some members of the upper chamber have clarified that the bill enjoyed the backing of the majority in the senate.
In its report, NBA warned that such discretionary phrasing weakens the legal basis for transparent, real-time result reporting, leaving space for manipulation and post-election disputes.
The association said a clear statutory requirement for electronic transmission is essential to protect the integrity of votes and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
It also noted that credible elections remain the foundation of constitutional democracy and warned that continued resistance to enforceable electronic transmission provisions undermines democratic accountability.
The association said technology-driven transparency is no longer optional in modern democracies, urging Nigeria to align its electoral framework with global best practices.
Accordingly, the NBA called on members of the national assembly to demonstrate legislative responsibility by voting in favour of the amendment compelling the electronic transmission of election results.
“The council resolved that the national assembly must urgently revisit clause 60(3) and pass the proposed amendment to expressly mandate electronic transmission of results from polling units,” the statement reads.