The Senate on Wednesday voted down a key amendment that would have made electronic transmission of election results compulsory, dealing a blow to campaigners for greater electoral transparency.
The proposed change to clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill would have compelled Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presiding officers to upload results in real time to the INEC Result Viewing (Irev) portal from every polling unit.
NewsQuest gathered that this would occur only after the prescribed Form EC8A had been signed and stamped by the presiding officer and countersigned by party agents.
Lawmakers in the upper chamber of parliament instead, opted to retain the current wording of the Act, which states merely that “the presiding officer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot, in a manner as prescribed by the Commission”.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from civil society organisations (CSOs), the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and many Nigerians who had lobbied intensely for the electronic transmission clause.
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP Comrade Ini Ememobong in a statement said “This rejection is a clear indication that the National Assembly is not willing or ready to legislate for electoral sanctity and democratic consolidation.
“This is indeed a sad day for electoral democracy. We hereby call the National Assembly to immediately reconsider its stand on this matter and take steps to pass the amendment approving the electronic transmission of results.”
