Electronic Transmission of Election Results Debate Not Over, Consensus Will Be Restored — Senator Umeh

By Our Correspondent

The Senator representing Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh, has clarified that the controversy surrounding electronic transmission of election results is far from over, assuring Nigerians that the agreed position of the National Assembly would be restored.

Umeh stated that the Senate had unanimously approved electronic transmission of election results in the proposed Electoral Act amendments, contrary to public reports suggesting that lawmakers only endorsed a vague “transfer” of results.

The senator spoke on Thursday while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, amid growing public outrage over reports from the Senate’s consideration of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

He explained that the amendment process was extensive and deliberate, involving first and second readings, zonal public hearings, wide consultations with stakeholders, and reports from a joint committee of the National Assembly.

“It takes a process to make a law. A bill must go through readings, public hearings and consultations before debate and passage. Laws are not made for the sake of it; they are made to solve problems,” Umeh said.

According to him, the amendment to Section 60 of the Electoral Act 2022—dealing with the transmission of election results—emerged as a major public demand during nationwide consultations.

He noted that the issue became critical following the 2023 general elections, which were widely disputed and eventually litigated up to the Supreme Court.

“During the presidential election cases, arguments were taken on whether results uploaded to the IReV portal had legal backing. The Supreme Court held that electronic transmission was not expressly provided for in the law and discountenanced such evidence,” he said.

Umeh said stakeholders therefore agreed that the law must be amended to expressly provide for electronic transmission, to prevent courts from dismissing electronically transmitted results as “unknown to law.”

He explained that both chambers of the National Assembly worked independently on the bill, adding that the House of Representatives had already passed its version with clear provisions for electronic transmission.

According to him, when the Senate considered the bill in a closed executive session, there was overwhelming consensus in favour of electronic transmission of results.

“Over 85 per cent of senators agreed to electronic transmission. It was common ground. Even the ad hoc committee of the Senate agreed to it,” he said.

Umeh clarified that the only modification agreed upon during the executive session was the removal of the phrase “in real time,” due to concerns about possible network challenges in some areas.

He said confusion arose during plenary when a motion was reportedly moved to replace the word “transmission” with “transfer” without debate.

“It was only ‘real time’ that was expunged because of network issues. Transmission itself was never in dispute.
“There was no debate on it. If debate had been allowed, it would have taken us back to the executive session where the issue had already been exhaustively discussed and resolved,” he said.

Umeh argued that replacing “transmission” with “transfer” would render the provision meaningless.
“You cannot talk about transfer to the IReV portal without electronic transmission. How do you transfer to a portal if it is not done electronically?” he asked.

He insisted that the Senate never agreed to revert to the wording of the 2022 Electoral Act, which merely referred to “transfer” of results.

Addressing the public outcry, Umeh said Nigerians’ reaction showed that the outcome of the plenary did not reflect what was debated and agreed upon, noting that citizens expect a more credible and transparent electoral process.

However, he stressed that the legislative process was not yet complete, as the Senate had not adopted its Votes and Proceedings from the sitting.

“We have not finished. The Votes and Proceedings of yesterday have not been approved. It is only approved proceedings that go to the conference committee for harmonisation,” he said.
Umeh expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved during the harmonisation process with the House of Representatives.

“When we return to approve the Votes and Proceedings, the question will be asked whether it truly reflects what we did. I believe the agreed position on electronic transmission will be restored,” he said.

The Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, retaining the provision that allows the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transfer results as it deems fit, rather than making electronic transmission mandatory.
The bill also shortens election timelines, adopts the BVAS while retaining the PVC as the sole voter identification, reduces penalties for PVC trading to two years’ imprisonment or a ₦5 million fine, and sets up a conference committee to harmonise the bill.
If you want it tightened further for print space, or rewritten in a more hard-hitting investigative tone, just say the word.