Reps reverse Electoral Act clause on electronic transmission, triggering opposition walkout over revised INEC result rules

The House of Representatives on Tuesday reversed a key provision of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill it had passed in December, altering Section 60(3) to introduce a dual system for the transmission of election results.

Also read: Electoral Act 2026 Rift: More Excuses, More Lies To Legalise Rigging

The revised clause modifies the earlier requirement that the Independent National Electoral Commission electronically transmit results from polling units to its Result Viewing Portal in real time alongside physical collation.

Under the new provision, presiding officers are mandated to electronically transmit results from each polling unit to the IREV portal only after Form EC8A has been duly signed and stamped by the presiding officer and, where available, countersigned by candidates or polling agents at the polling unit.

The amendment further stipulates that where electronic transmission fails due to communication challenges, the manually completed Form EC8A shall serve as the primary document for result collation and declaration.

The decision to revise the clause sparked immediate protest on the floor of the chamber. Opposition lawmakers staged a walkout shortly after the new provision was adopted.

Led by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, the opposition members later addressed journalists at the House of Representatives Media Centre, rejecting the amendment and describing it, along with other provisions in the bill, as anti-people.

Kingsley Chinda argued that the changes weakened safeguards introduced to strengthen transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.

The minority caucus maintained that real-time electronic transmission was a critical reform intended to curb manipulation during collation.

Supporters of the amendment, however, insisted that the revised wording clarifies procedural steps and provides a practical fallback in areas where technological infrastructure may be unreliable.

Also read: Reps Deny Delaying Electoral Act Amendment Bill

The Reps reverse Electoral Act clause move is expected to generate further debate as the amendment progresses through the legislative process, with stakeholders closely watching its implications for future elections.