Thirteen Nigerian senators led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe have insisted that the Senate passed the clause on electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026, countering reports that the upper chamber rejected the provision during its plenary session.

The National Assembly is currently considering the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026, which seeks to repeal and reenact the existing Electoral Act.

One of the most debated provisions is Clause 60(3), which relates to the real-time electronic transmission of election results.

Several media reports suggested that the Senate had voted against making the electronic transmission of results mandatory. In response, a group of senators held a news conference in Abuja to clarify their position.

The group of senators, including Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Aminu Tambuwal, among others, reaffirmed that the Senate passed the clause on electronic transmission of results during plenary on Wednesday.

Senator Abaribe said the clarification became necessary because of misinterpretations in the media about the Senate’s action on the bill.

He stated that the Senate President had also confirmed that the chamber passed the clause regarding electronic results transmission.

The senators explained that joint committees from both chambers worked on the amendment bill, and there was consensus that electronic transmission of results was essential.

They said this agreement was reflected in both House of Representatives and Senate committee reports.

They also noted that a harmonisation committee has been established to consolidate the versions of the bill passed by the Senate and House of Representatives before the final document is sent to the President for assent.

Senator Abaribe said: “What we passed, and which the Senate President himself, when he was making clarification, confirmed that what we passed was transmission of electronic results.”

He added: “There’s still one more step left for the Senate to take. What now happens in harmonisation is simple: you either adopt the House’s version, or you adopt the Senate’s version.”

The clarification from the group of senators comes as debates continue over the use of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Electronic transmission of results was a key tool used by the Independent National Electoral Commission in past elections and remains a topic of public interest as lawmakers refine the legal framework ahead of future polls.

The work of the harmonisation committee will determine the final wording of the electoral law, including how electronic transmission provisions will be codified