Sen. Ireti Kingibe, who represents Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory and sits on the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, has sought to calm public concerns over the ongoing Electoral Amendment Bill, saying proposed reforms — including electronic transmission of election results — remain part of the legislation.
Kingibe’s comments followed criticism from major opposition parties after the Senate declined to adopt an amendment to Clause 70(3) of the bill that would have explicitly made electronic transmission of results mandatory.
In a statement posted Friday on X, Kingibe said the National Assembly conducted an extensive reform process in 2024 and 2025, including public hearings, policy retreats and consultations with the Independent National Electoral Commission and civil society groups.
She said the reform report was built around three key provisions: electronic transmission of election results with real-time uploads to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal; recognition of three modes of party primaries — direct, indirect and consensus; and clearly defined election timelines to promote credible and orderly polls.
According to Kingibe, an ad hoc Senate committee reviewed the report and largely endorsed its recommendations, noting that about 85% of senators supported electronic transmission of results.
“When this report was presented to the Senate, an ad hoc committee was constituted to review it,” she said. “The committee’s recommendations were largely aligned with the original report. Notably, about 85% of senators supported the electronic transmission of election results.”
She dismissed claims that the Senate had abandoned the reforms or reverted to the 2022 Electoral Act, explaining that the proposed amendments go further than the existing law.
“While the 2022 Act used the term ‘transfer’ of results, the committees, after careful deliberation, specifically recommended that the commission shall electronically transmit results and upload them to the IREV in real time,” Kingibe said, adding that the amendments remain part of the bill and are awaiting harmonisation.
Earlier, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the Senate had not rejected electronic transmission but retained language in the current Electoral Act stating that results should be transferred “in a manner as prescribed by the commission.”
Kingibe said the harmonisation process between the Senate and the House of Representatives is ongoing and that a correspondence committee has been set up to reconcile both versions into a final bill.
She urged Nigerians to remain calm and engaged, saying the reforms are intended to strengthen democratic institutions and protect voters’ rights.
“We are your representatives. We are your voice,” she said. “And your will must shape the laws that govern you.”
