by George Ozalla
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said the National Assembly will not allow itself to be coerced or pressured into passing an electoral law that could undermine the integrity and stability of Nigeria’s democratic process.
Akpabio spoke in Abuja amid sustained public criticism over amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly the Senate’s decision to remove mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units. Addressing the controversy, the Senate President said, “The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will not be intimidated into passing a faulty electoral law. We must do what is right for the country, not what is popular or emotionally appealing at the moment.”
He said lawmakers have a responsibility to ensure that any law passed is practical, implementable and capable of standing the test of time, noting that rigid provisions could create serious challenges during elections. According to him, “It is easy to make laws on paper, but it is the duty of parliament to consider realities on the ground. An electoral law that collapses on election day is not in the interest of democracy.”
Akpabio explained that the Senate did not remove electronic transmission of results from the bill, but merely declined to impose a compulsory real-time requirement on the Independent National Electoral Commission. He said the amendment was intended to give INEC operational discretion, especially in areas where network coverage, power supply and other technological limitations could affect real-time transmission.
“The commission is still empowered to deploy technology in the conduct of elections,” he said, adding that flexibility would help avoid disputes and system failures that could arise from circumstances beyond the control of election officials.
The Senate President’s remarks came as opposition parties and civil society organisations intensified criticism of the amendment. Several groups have argued that compulsory electronic transmission of results improved transparency and public confidence in recent elections and should be strengthened rather than weakened. Opposition figures have described the Senate’s action as a backward step, warning that it could reopen old concerns about result manipulation.
Civil society organisations involved in election monitoring have also urged lawmakers to reconsider the amendment, insisting that technological safeguards are essential for credible elections and voter trust, especially ahead of future general elections.
Despite the pushback, Senate leadership maintains that the legislative process has not been concluded. Lawmakers say the bill will still undergo harmonisation with the House of Representatives, after which a final version will be transmitted to the President for assent.
The legislation under consideration is the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026, which originated from a review of the existing electoral framework to address gaps observed in previous elections. The bill was sponsored in the Senate through the Committee on Electoral Matters.
