ABUJA — Proceedings on the harmonisation of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, were thrown into uncertainty yesterday after members of the House of Representatives failed to attend a scheduled conference committee meeting with the Senate.
The meeting, initially fixed for 11 a.m., could not hold due to the absence of House members, despite the presence of several senators. A senior lawmaker told reporters, “How can there be a conclusion when the meeting failed to hold?” The session was later shifted to 3 p.m., but the House delegation again failed to show up in full, forcing committee leaders to disperse without reaching agreement.
The committee, co-chaired by Senator Simon Lalong and Adebayo Balogun, is expected to reconcile differences on about 20 clauses of the bill, including the contentious Clause 60(3), which deals with electronic transmission of election results. A late-night meeting was subsequently convened at the Senate President’s Lodge in Maitama in a last-minute effort to align positions ahead of plenary.
The renewed legislative wrangling comes exactly one year before the February 20, 2027 general elections, with mounting pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to guarantee seamless and transparent electronic transmission of results. The issue has revived memories of the controversy that trailed the 2023 presidential election.
In 2023, delays in uploading results to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) triggered widespread suspicion and litigation. However, the Supreme Court of Nigeria later ruled that failure to upload results to IReV did not invalidate the election of President Bola Tinubu, holding that the portal was for public viewing and not a legally binding collation platform.
While the House of Representatives has reportedly favoured mandatory electronic transmission from polling units, the Senate has expressed caution, citing concerns over telecommunications coverage and power supply. Lawmakers previously relied on submissions from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which in earlier assessments indicated uneven network coverage across polling units.
Telecommunications operators, however, dispute claims of inadequate infrastructure. The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) maintains that current 2G, 3G, 4G and expanding 5G networks are sufficient for electronic result transmission. Major operators, including MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria, point to significant recent investments in fibre expansion and new base stations as evidence of improved capacity.
Analysts argue that beyond infrastructure, legal clarity and public trust will determine the credibility of the 2027 polls. Civil society groups are urging lawmakers to clearly define the timing and enforceability of real-time transmission, while experts recommend nationwide stress tests and improved training for ad hoc staff.
With 2027 approaching, observers say the debate is no longer about whether technology should be used, but whether institutions can deploy it transparently and consistently. The outcome of the current legislative process may shape public confidence long before the first ballot is cast.
