By Haruna Salami
The Senate, at its emergency plenary on Tuesday rescinded its earlier decision on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, by passing electronic transmission of election results in the new law.
The Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North moved a motion for Rescission on Clause 60 (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal & Enactment) Bill, 2026
The Senate recalled that the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill was passed by the Senate on Wednesday, 4th February, 2026;
The red chamber noted that “upon careful examination of the Bill, fresh issues have emerged in respect of Clause 60 (3), which requires further legislative consideration in order to ensure the conduct of smooth, transparent, and credible elections in Nigeria.
Relying on the provisions of Orders 1(b) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 (as amended) the Senate resolved to “rescind its earlier decision on Clause 60 (3) of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill as previously passed.
What was earlier passed went back to 2022 Electoral Act which used the word “transfer” instead ‘electronic transmission” of election results as recommended by the committee on Electoral Matters.
Monguno’s motion asked for recommital of the controversial Clause 60 (3) to the Committee of the Whole for further reconsideration and passage.
Monguno said “the Senate, as the embodiment of the representative will of the people, will always act in consonance with their wishes and aspirations.
“The amendment being sought is intended to align the laws we make with those wishes and aspirations. That is the reasoning behind this amendment. “
The Senate passed the amended Clause 60 (3) to read “That the Presiding Officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IReV portal, after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and/or countersigned by candidates or polling agents where available at the polling unit; provided that where electronic transmission fails due to communication challenges, making transmission of the signed and stamped Form EC8A impossible, the Form EC8A shall be the primary source for collation and declaration of results”.
This latest version still fall short of what was recommended by the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters which makes electronic transmission of election results “mandatory” and “real time”.
The spontaneous protests from Nigerians forced the Senate to convene an emergency plenary session today (Tuesday) February 10.
