The International Press Centre (IPC), the Center for Media and Society (CEMESO) and other Civil Society Organisations have called on the Harmonisation Committee of the National Assembly to adopt the House of Representatives’ position on mandatory electronic transmission of election results, downloadable voter cards, and the retention of existing electoral timelines ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The groups also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue the notice of elections in line with the Electoral Act 2022, warning that continued delays could undermine preparations for the polls.
During a joint press conference held in Lagos, the organisations expressed concern over the Senate’s rejection of provisions allowing real-time electronic transmission of results and the use of downloaded missing or unissued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), as well as its decision to shorten electoral timelines.
They said the disagreement between the Senate and the House of Representatives over the amendments poses serious risks to the credibility of the 2027 elections.
Dr Akin Akingbulu, the Executive Director of CEMESO, while addressing journalists, explained that “electoral reform is not merely a procedural exercise; it is foundational to the credibility, transparency, and predictability of democratic transitions. The protracted amendment process has created legal uncertainty that delays INEC’s constitutionally mandated electoral preparations, potentially compromising the Commission’s ability to conduct credible elections.”
Dr Akingbulu also noted that conflicting narratives had emerged following the Senate’s vote on electronic transmission of results, with claims ranging from approval of real-time transmission to mere retention of INEC’s discretionary powers.
He described the situation as troubling, saying legislation of such importance should not be subject to ambiguity or political contestation.
He also urged INEC to issue the 2027 election timetable without further delay, in accordance with Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires the Commission to give notice of elections at least 360 days before polling day.
As the Senate and House conference committee holds an emergency plenary session today, February 10, the groups recommended that lawmakers adopt the House of Representatives’ position on mandatory electronic transmission of results, while avoiding rigid references to specific technologies such as the IReV portal. They also proposed a technology-neutral provision requiring results to be transmitted in real time from polling units and collation centres to a public portal for verification, and the adoption of downloadable PVCs.
Sharing the organisations’ positions, Mr Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, said “we hereby proposed the following modification to Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 ‘The designated election official shall electronically transmit all election results in real time, including the number of accredited voters, directly from the polling units and collation centres to a public portal and the transmitted result shall be used to verify any other result before it is collated’.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we provide clarity on the concept of ‘real-time’. Real-time electronic transmission of results means sending the official polling unit results recorded on Form EC8A electronically from the polling unit directly to a central results portal immediately after voting has ended, ballots have been counted, and the results have been publicly announced at the polling unit. This transmission happens in the presence of party agents, observers, and voters at the polling unit,” Arogundade added.
The groups thereafter appealed to the National Assembly to conclude the amendment process and transmit the final bill to the President within two weeks.
Other organizations that convened the joint press briefing alongside IPC and CEMESO were: The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), Elect Her, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, TAF Africa and Yiaga Africa.