The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, has urged the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act 2026 by removing the provision permitting manual transmission of election results.
Speaking during a citizens’ town hall discussion on the Electoral Act 2026, Itodo criticised the clause allowing manual transmission when electronic transmission fails due to network challenges, describing it as a major setback to electoral transparency.
According to him, lawmakers missed a historic opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral credibility during the amendment process.
He noted that the controversial proviso undermines the core objective of electronic transmission of results, which is designed to reduce human interference and enhance openness in the electoral process.
Itodo therefore called on the National Assembly to immediately recommence amendment procedures to delete the clause, stressing that doing so would maximise the effectiveness of electronic result transmission and improve public trust in elections.
He argued that electronic transmission limits manipulation and promotes transparency, adding that there should be no resistance to full deployment of technology if political actors are committed to credible elections.
The Electoral Act 2026 debate intensified after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 into law on February 18, following its passage by the National Assembly after months of deliberations.
Before its signing, the legislation generated sharp divisions among lawmakers, political stakeholders, and civil society groups over the appropriate method for transmitting election results ahead of the 2027 general elections.
