Nigeria’s National Assembly has rejected mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results, citing weak infrastructure and lack of institutional independence. The Senate passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026, which allows for manual transmission as a backup, rejecting the mandatory and real-time requirement.

The bill, passed by a vote of 55 to 15, was later signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, suggesting the ruling APC party opposed the real-time electronic transmission of results. Despite the provision in the Electoral Act 2022 for electronic transmission, the new amendment allows for manual processes, raising concerns about the credibility of future elections.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele cited data from the Nigerian Communications Commission, which showed broadband coverage at 70 percent and internet penetration at 44.53 percent of the population in 2025. According to the Speedtest Global Index, Nigeria ranked 85th in mobile network reliability and 129th in fixed broadband reliability, far below global averages.

Bamidele argued that Nigeria’s technological and power infrastructure deficiencies make real-time electronic transmission unfeasible. However, critics point out that Nigeria has failed to organize credible elections in the past, with frequent postponements due to so-called ‘technical failures.’ In 2011, the National Assembly elections were postponed due to ‘late arrival of results sheets,’ while in 2019, logistical challenges led to delays in the presidential elections.

The 2023 presidential election, which saw a notorious ‘technical glitch,’ further highlighted the issue. The Electoral Act 2022 introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal for real-time result transmission. However, INEC failed to use these technologies effectively, leading to widespread criticism from international observers and former leaders.

The Supreme Court later ruled that INEC was not bound to use the BVAS and IReV systems, as the Electoral Act did not mandate electronic transmission. This decision has been criticized for undermining the integrity of the election process, allowing INEC to operate with minimal oversight.

Experts warn that without institutional independence and stronger state capacity, Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election may face similar challenges. The new Electoral Act, they argue, legitimizes INEC’s behavior and reduces accountability, potentially leading to further erosion of public trust in the electoral process.