By Gabriel Ameh
Connected Development (CODE) has raised concerns over key decisions taken by the Nigerian Senate on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026, particularly the failure to make real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units a legal requirement.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the civil society organisation acknowledged the Senate’s efforts to amend the electoral framework ahead of the 2027 general elections but described the refusal to expressly mandate electronic result transmission as a setback for transparency, accountability, and public trust in the electoral process.
CODE also criticised the Senate’s decision to reduce the notice period for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish election notices from 360 days to 180 days, alongside shortened deadlines for political parties to submit candidate lists. The group warned that compressed timelines could negatively affect election logistics, voter education, disability access planning, and effective monitoring by civil society organisations and the media.
While noting that fines for electoral offences such as vote buying were increased, CODE expressed disappointment that lawmakers rejected proposals to impose longer bans on offenders from contesting future elections. It argued that retaining two-year jail terms and fines as primary sanctions may not be strong enough to deter electoral malpractice.
The organisation further observed that although the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was retained in the amendments, the Senate rejected the proposal for electronically generated voter identification. This means the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) remains the sole means of voter identification at polling units, despite ongoing challenges with access, replacement, and distribution.
According to CODE, Nigeria’s electoral history shows that threats to credible elections often arise not only at polling units but during result collation and transmission. It warned that leaving electronic transmission to discretion, while shortening critical timelines, preserves loopholes that have previously enabled manipulation and prolonged post-election disputes.
“When transparency is left to discretion, democracy is left to chance. Failing to mandate electronic transmission of results and compressing critical timelines without strengthening accountability weakens, rather than strengthens, Nigeria’s electoral integrity,” said Hyeladzira James Mshelia, Acting Chief Executive of CODE.
CODE urged the National Assembly, particularly during the harmonisation process with the House of Representatives, to explicitly provide for real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results, strengthen safeguards against manipulation during collation, ensure electoral offence penalties have real deterrent value, and reconsider the shortened timelines to allow adequate preparation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to working with citizens, the media, civil society partners, and reform-minded lawmakers to promote credible elections and ensure that every vote including those of marginalised communities not only counts, but is seen to count.
