Obi, NGE, SMBLF demand end to Electoral Act controversy

Want mandatory, immediate transmission of election results

Emeka Agu Jnr, Lagos and Idibia Gabriel, Kaduna

The Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, Mr. Peter Obi, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum (SMBLF) among others have called for an end to the controversy over the Electoral Act amendment bill passed by the Senate.

The Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, joined hundreds of protesters at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, on Monday, to protest the Senate’s decision to remove the phrase “real-time” from provisions on electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

The protesters accused lawmakers of attempting to weaken electoral transparency, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The agitation followed the passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill, 2026 by the Senate last week.

Chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards bearing messages such as: “Our votes must count,” “No to electoral robbery,” and “Protect democracy now,” the demonstrators marched from the Federal Secretariat toward the National Assembly.

Addressing newsmen at the protest ground, Obi decried what he described as the gradual erosion of democratic gains in the country, warning that credible elections remained critical to national stability and development.

“We must dismantle this criminality and prove that we are now a nation that shows light in Africa,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Guild of Editors )NGE) has expressed deep concern over the controversy surrounding the Senate’s position on the transmission of election results ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement on Monday signed by the NGE President, Eze Anaba and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the body of Editors said the development is already creating room for doubt and mistrust in the electoral process among Nigerians.

According to the Guild, the uncertainty arising from the Senate’s adoption of provisions in the proposed 2022 Electoral Act—allowing for the transmission of election results without making it mandatory and immediate—runs contrary to the widely held position of most Nigerians and many lawmakers.

The resulting public outrage has pitted citizens against the Senate and could potentially discourage voter participation in future elections.

The statement reads in part: “At a time when Nigerians are calling for mandatory and immediate transmission of election results from polling units to central collation centres—and as countries across the world adopt electronic transmission as part of electoral reforms to enhance transparency—the Senate’s position leaves much to be desired.

“To say the least, this stance represents a missed opportunity to strengthen transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process.

“It undermines ongoing efforts to deepen democratic governance and ensure credible elections.

“Globally, mandatory electronic transmission of election results has become a standard for improving electoral credibility and efficiency.

“Nigeria should not be an exception. As the Senate reconvenes tomorrow (February 10, 2026), to harmonise its position with that of the House of Representatives, the National Assembly still has an opportunity to uphold the highest standards of electoral integrity by approving mandatory and immediate transmission of election results from polling units to the INEC central server and collation centres.

“Such a decision would lay a solid foundation for free and fair elections and help deepen democracy.

“The digitalisation of elections—anchored on real-time transmission of results—will enhance transparency, efficiency, accuracy, and voter confidence. It will also streamline election result management, reduce disputes, minimise controversies, and significantly curb electoral fraud.

“Electoral reforms, when combined with digital innovation, strengthen democratic processes and boost public trust. Making the transmission of election results mandatory and immediate is therefore critical to achieving credible elections in Nigeria.

“Nigerians are watching the National Assembly closely on this issue. We expect that, in the harmonised provisions of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the transmission of election results from polling units to INEC central servers and collation centres will be made mandatory and immediate.

“Anything short of this will be out of step with contemporary and progressive electoral practices. Mandatory and immediate transmission of election results will not only enhance free and fair elections but also give Nigerians the confidence that their votes will truly count”.

In the same vein, the Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum (SMBLF) has issued a statement demanding for the retention of a crucial clause in the 2026 Electoral Amendment Bill, insisting that real-time electronic transmission of election results must be made compulsory.

In a press statement released on Monday, the forum aligned with calls from other groups and citizens, urging the National Assembly to retain Clause 60 as passed by the House of Representatives and harmonized by the Joint Conference Committee.

The SMBLF described free, fair, and transparent elections as the “foundation of democracy,” warning that weakening it is an attack on the sovereignty of the people, according to statement signed by leader of SMBLE and Afenifere, HRM Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and 3 others Sunday.

It highlighted that Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) is a key tool for transparency, arguing that when backed by law, it removes secrecy, manipulation, and post-election confusion.

The SMBLF expressed “deep concern” over what it called a discrepancy in the Senate’s process, noting that a broad section of the Senate had openly affirmed voting in favour of mandatory real-time electronic transmission.

However, the forum stated it is “alarmed by credible claims” that the Senate President tampered with the final version, leading to an unauthorized bill that excludes the provision.

The group pointed to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Senate Minority Leader, who has publicly stated that the Senate passed a version making the transmission mandatory, only for a different version—without the clause—to surface later. “This is unacceptable in a democratic legislature,” SMBLF declared.

Referencing the 2023 presidential election petition, the forum recalled that the Supreme Court relied on a clause in the 2022 Electoral Act that made electronic transmission optional, ruling it was at INEC’s discretion.

“That legal loophole must not be repeated. The law must be clear, firm, and mandatory,” the statement read”, it empathized..

The SMBLF dismissed the common argument that a lack of telecom coverage in some areas is an impediment, citing INEC’s explanation that the BVAS device has inbuilt offline technology that stores and uploads results once connectivity is available.

The forum listed key reasons for its insistence on mandatory electronic transmission, adding “blocking result manipulation, during movement from polling units, strengthening public trust, protecting votes in vulnerable communities, reducing post-election violence and legal disputes, and compelling leaders to be accountable”.

Linking electoral integrity to national security, the statement said compromised elections lead to unaccountable leadership, contributing to the current climate of insecurity.

It cited the recent massacre in Woro, Kwara State, and widespread killings, arguing that such “reckless, negligent, and indifferent governance” would not thrive if leaders knew votes truly counted.

The statement concluded with a strong warning to the Senate: “We want to strongly warn the Senate not to undermine the will of the Nigerian electorate by toying with the future of our democracy. The Senate must assume the people are powerless or forgetful as the Nigerian people are watching. History is also recording.”