The Senate has rescinded its earlier decision on the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 and re-passed it, retaining the proviso on Clause 60(3) that allows for manual transmission of election results if electronic transmission fails.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the proviso means presiding officers can transmit results electronically, but if the system fails, they can use Form EC8A as a backup.
The development followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) during plenary on Tuesday, after the bill had undergone clause-by-clause consideration.
Bamidele, in the motion titled “Motion for Rescission and Re-Commital,” said the bill had been duly considered and passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
However, a further critical review revealed that the 360-day notice requirement in Clause 28 could schedule the 2027 presidential and national assembly elections during Ramadan, potentially affecting voter turnout, logistical coordination, stakeholder engagement, and the overall inclusiveness and credibility of the electoral process.
The Senate Leader added that discrepancies were also identified in the Long Title and Clauses 6, 9, 10, 22, 23, 28, 29, 32, 42, 47, 51, 60, 62, 64, 65, 73, 77, 86, 87, 89, 93, and 143,** affecting cross-referencing, serial numbering, and internal consistency. To address these issues, a technical committee comprising the leadership of both chambers, conference committee members, clerks, and legal drafting experts from the National Assembly’s Directorate of Legal Services was formed to harmonize and correct the anomalies.
Bamidele explained that the rescission aimed to safeguard the integrity of the electoral framework and ensure that electoral timelines and statutory provisions promote maximum participation, fairness, inclusivity, administrative efficiency, and public confidence.
Citing Orders 1(b) and 53(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, he told colleagues: “The Senate accordingly resolves to rescind its decision on the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026 as previously passed; and re-commit the bill to the Committee of the Whole for comprehensive reconsideration and necessary amendments.”
NAN reports that despite the rescission and re-enactment of the bill, the previously approved Clause 60(3) and its proviso were retained. The clause mandates electronic transmission of results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), requiring that results be transmitted only after Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by presiding officers and party agents. If electronic transmission fails due to communication issues, the result in Form EC8A becomes the primary source for collation and declaration.
During clause-by-clause consideration, Sen. Enyinaya Abaribe (APGA-Abia) raised a point of order on Clause 60(3), calling for a division to vote on it.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano) initially ruled the point out of order, saying the matter had been concluded, but opposition lawmakers shouted him down. Bamidele intervened, affirming: “Abaribe’s point of order calling for a division was in order.”
He added that the motion on rescission was in the overriding public interest and essential to preserve the Senate’s integrity.
The Senate then went into division on the proviso of Clause 60(3), which was supported by the majority of ruling APC lawmakers — 55 in favor, 15 opposed.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised senators for their patriotism, describing their actions as a display of democracy. He commended those who voted against the proviso for showing courage, while also thanking those who voted for its retention, saying it prevented continuous reruns of elections.
“I want to also thank the Senate for introducing electronic transmission of polling unit results through the IReV portal. This will allow monitors, including foreign observers who cannot visit all 176,000 polling units, to track results in real time. This is a major innovation since 1960. With this, the Senate’s stance should be applauded. Congratulations to all for ensuring a smooth election in 2027,” Akpabio said.
The passage of the bill marks a significant step in the ongoing review of Nigeria’s electoral framework. The legislation is expected to be harmonised with the version passed by the House of Representatives before being transmitted to the President for assent.