Nigeria’s political landscape was plunged into fresh turmoil today after the Senate made a controversial and dramatic U-turn on a critical electoral reform, sparking fiery protests and a near-riotous session in the upper legislative chamber.
The emergency sitting, held amid intense public backlash, approved the electronic transmission of election results but attached a contentious clause that critics say renders the entire process useless.
The decision, which followed a rowdy and divided plenary, mandates that where internet connectivity fails, the manually filled Form EC8A will become the primary instrument for result collation.
This fallback provision has ignited a firestorm, with opposition figures, civil society, and protesters branding it a “trojan horse” designed to facilitate electoral fraud and undermine Nigeria’s fragile democracy.
Proceedings at Tuesday’s Senate sitting became intensely heated, marked by repeated interruptions and sharp exchanges that disrupted debates.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically as lawmakers began deliberation on a motion sponsored by Senator Tahir Monguno, which triggered deep divisions.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio was forced to intervene repeatedly to maintain order. He ultimately lent his support to a revised framework that designates electronic transmission as the primary mode but allows manual submission via Form EC8A strictly where technical challenges occur.
“The motion provides for a fallback option allowing the manual transmission of results using Form EC8A, duly signed and stamped by the presiding officer,” the Senate resolved.
The debate grew so contentious that Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe called for an individual vote to put every lawmaker on the record. “Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe… called for an individual vote on the matter to clearly determine the position of each lawmaker,” the proceedings noted.
In a surprising twist, however, Senator Abaribe withdrew his call moments later, and the votes and proceedings were approved amid the tension.
Public Outrage and Nationwide Protests
The Senate’s emergency session was a direct response to mounting public outrage over its previous amendment to the Electoral Act.
Last week, lawmakers removed the requirement for real-time electronic transmission, reverting to a 2022 provision that grants the electoral commission, INEC, full discretion on how to transmit results.
This decision sparked immediate nationwide protests.
The #OccupyNASS demonstration in Abuja saw prominent political figures join citizens in the streets. Former presidential candidate Peter Obi and former minister Rotimi Amaechi were among those demanding mandatory real-time electronic transmission, arguing it is essential for transparency.
Speaking to protesters, Rotimi Amaechi was unequivocal in his condemnation, connecting the Senate’s actions to broader fears about the ruling party’s intentions. “
They are afraid of electronic transmission because they know they will lose,” Amaechi stated, capturing the sentiment of many demonstrators who believe the fallback to manual forms opens the door for result manipulation.
The Core Controversy: A “Poison Pill” Clause?
At the heart of the dispute is Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill. The newly amended version, while permitting electronic transmission, is viewed by analysts as containing a “poison pill.”
The clause stipulates that “where internet connectivity fails, the Form EC8A will remain the primary instrument for result collation.” Given Nigeria’s well-documented history of network failures in remote polling units and past controversies over “incident forms,” critics argue this exception will be abused to override digital transparency.
A senator who spoke against the motion during the plenary highlighted this risk, warning that the reliance on Form EC8A as the primary source in disputes creates a major loophole.
“The proposal… sparked concerns among lawmakers, particularly over the reliance on Form EC8A as the primary source of election results, where disputes arise,” the session records show.
In a bid to move the process forward, Senate President Akpabio announced the appointment of a 12-member conference committee to harmonise differences with the House of Representatives’ version of the bill.
“I will now read out the names of the conference committee members from the Senate,” Akpabio said on the floor. The committee is chaired by Senator Simon Bako Lalong and includes other prominent lawmakers.
Akpabio urged the committee to treat its assignment with utmost urgency. He expressed optimism that the harmonised bill could be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent within February. “
The Senate President said that the outcome would be transmitted promptly to President Bola Tinubu for assent within February,” and added that he was optimistic the President would sign it into law within a week.
This latest electoral controversy strikes at the core of public trust in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The 2023 general elections were marred by significant delays and failures in uploading results to INEC’s IReV portal, an issue that fueled countless legal challenges and eroded citizen confidence.
