The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has expressed reservations about making real-time electronic transmission of election results compulsory, citing significant deficiencies in Nigeria’s telecommunications and power infrastructure.
In a statement released on Sunday by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Bamidele addressed ongoing deliberations in the National Assembly over Clause 60(3) of the proposed Electoral Bill 2026. The controversial clause mandates that presiding officers at polling units electronically upload election results directly to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) immediately after voting concludes.
The Senate had earlier voted against adopting the clause in its original form, raising concerns about the country’s readiness to implement such a measure nationwide. However, following further consultations and debate, the upper chamber reconsidered its position. While it agreed to retain electronic transmission as part of the electoral process, lawmakers introduced a critical amendment: in areas where internet connectivity fails, the manually completed result sheet, known as Form EC8A, would serve as the primary document for collation.
Bamidele acknowledged that electronic transmission of results is widely regarded as a progressive reform capable of enhancing transparency and strengthening public trust in elections. He described the provision as one that many legislatures around the world would ordinarily embrace without hesitation. Nonetheless, he maintained that Nigeria’s current realities make full, mandatory implementation problematic.
Drawing on figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission, he noted that broadband coverage reached approximately 70 percent in 2025. However, actual internet penetration stands at just 44.53 percent of the population, indicating that a substantial number of Nigerians still lack reliable online access.
He further referenced data from the Speedtest Global Index, which highlights Nigeria’s relatively low global standing in internet reliability and speed. According to the index, the country ranks 85th out of 105 countries in mobile network reliability and 129th out of 150 countries in fixed broadband reliability. Nigeria’s average mobile download speed of 44.14 megabits per second falls significantly below global frontrunners such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Bulgaria. In fixed broadband performance, Nigeria’s average speed of 33.32 megabits per second places it near the bottom of the global ranking.
Beyond telecommunications challenges, Bamidele stressed that electricity supply remains a major obstacle. He pointed out that approximately 85 million Nigerians—around 43 percent of the population—do not have access to grid electricity. This, he argued, significantly undermines the practicality of enforcing mandatory real-time electronic uploads across all polling units, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
According to the Senate Leader, while digital reforms are essential for modernising Nigeria’s electoral system, they must be implemented in line with the country’s infrastructural capacity. He emphasised that legislation should balance innovation with realism, ensuring that electoral integrity is strengthened without creating operational failures that could compromise the credibility of future elections.
0 Comments