House Of Reps Take Decision On Electronic Transmission Of Results Amidst Rowdy Session

The House of Representatives on Tuesday, agreed to provide for both real-time electronic transmission and manual transmission of election results.

This followed a fierce debate on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025 ahead of the 2027 elections.

Recall that the House had gone into a closed-door session to restore calm and allow members deliberate further on the review of the Electoral Act.

The House, however, descended into another rowdy session after nearly two hours behind closed doors as lawmakers reopened debate on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025 and insisted on clause-by-clause consideration of the contentious legislation.

However, tensions flared when the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, initially attempted to take the report in bulk rather than clause by clause.

Lawmakers immediately objected, shouting protests and insisting that given the far-reaching implications of the amendments for the 2027 polls, each clause must be thoroughly debated and voted on individually.

Following the uproar, the Deputy Speaker halted proceedings and restarted the process, agreeing to subject the bill to clause-by-clause consideration.

Following the deliberations, the House adopted Clause 60(3) to provide for both real-time electronic transmission and manual transmission of election results.

Rep. Bamidele Salam moved to delete the provision on manual transmission, arguing that retaining it could undermine the credibility and technological advancement of the electoral process. The motion was seconded by Rep. Kingsley Chinda.

However, when the matter was put to a voice vote, the “nays” prevailed, effectively defeating the attempt to remove manual transmission from the clause.

Naija News reports that the new clause 60(3), as passed on Tuesday by the lawmakers, reads that:

“(3) The Presiding Officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to IREV portal and such
transmission shall be done after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the Presiding officer and/or countersigned by the candidates or Polling agents where available at the Polling Unit.

“Provided that if the electronic transmission of the result fails as a result of communication failure and it becomes
impossible to transmit the result contained in form EC8A signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and
countersigned by the candidates or polling agents where available at the polling unit, the form EC8A shall remain the
primary source of collation and declaration of the result.”