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A coalition of over 70 civil society organizations (CSOs) advocating for credible elections, on Friday, insisted on mandatory real-time electronic transmission of 2027 general election results.

The CSOs, which operate via the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, flayed what they described as the Senate’s passage of a retrogressive version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026.


According to the group, rather than strengthening the country’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 poll, “the Senate’s amendments weaken critical safeguards for transparency, credibility, and public trust in elections.”

They urged the Conference Committee of the National Assembly to retain progressive provisions agreed by the Joint Committees, particularly real-time electronic transmission of results and realistic electoral timelines

The statement, which was made available to Vanguard, read: “The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room expresses grave concern and profound disappointment over the passage by the Senate of a watered-down and retrogressive version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026.”

“The version passed by the Senate substantially departs from the progressive reforms agreed by the Joint National Assembly Committees on Electoral Matters after extensive consultations with stakeholders.

“Rather than strengthening Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 General Elections, the Senate’s amendments weaken critical safeguards for transparency, credibility, and public trust in elections.

“Of particular concern is the Senate’s removal of provisions mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

“This reform enjoys broad public support and is widely recognised as essential to reducing manipulation, enhancing transparency, and restoring confidence in the electoral process.

“By making electronic transmission discretionary, the Senate has reopened loopholes that Nigeria’s electoral reforms were designed to close.

“This decision directly contradicts the position of the House of Representatives, which explicitly approved mandatory real-time transmission during its clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill.


“It is also a troubling retreat from lessons learned during the 2023 General Elections, where the absence of mandatory real-time transmission contributed significantly to disputes, litigation, and widespread public mistrust of election outcomes.

“Equally disturbing is the Senate’s decision to reduce the timeline for the issuance of the Notice of Elections from 360 days to 180 days before polling day.

“The existing timeline under the Electoral Act 2022 was carefully crafted to provide INEC with sufficient lead time for voter registration activities, logistics planning, training and deployment of ad-hoc staff, voter education, and procurement.

“Halving this period will severely constrain preparations, increase operational risks, and heighten the likelihood of avoidable failures.


“Compressed timelines will also negatively affect political parties by squeezing their internal processes, escalating disputes over primaries and nominations, and triggering increased pre-election litigation—further destabilising the electoral calendar.

“Situation Room finds it particularly disturbing that these retrogressive amendments were introduced despite sustained civic engagement.

“On 28 January 2026, Situation Room led a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, calling for the passage of the Bill in the form agreed by the Joint Committees. The Senate’s action reflects a troubling disregard for citizen advocacy and stakeholder consensus.

“While the constitution of a Conference (Harmonisation) Committee is a recognised legislative procedure, it must not become a channel for further weakening electoral reforms. The harmonisation process presents a final opportunity to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.

“Situation Room, therefore, calls on the Conference Committee to retain the progressive provisions agreed by the Joint Committees, particularly mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results and realistic electoral timelines.

“We also urge the leadership of the National Assembly to demonstrate statesmanship and ensure that the final Bill strengthens—rather than undermines—Nigeria’s democracy,” the statement, which was jointly signed by the Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Mr. Yunusa Z. Ya’u, and the two Co-Conveners, Mma Odi and Celestine Odo, further read.

Organizations in the coalition include Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), and Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD)

LordviccoDaGuru:
No election in Nigeria in 2027 The military is taking over. Go and write it down 👇

Buhari and APC henchmen obviously love ballot snatching that favors them. After all, APC ballot snatchers in Lagos had a field day without the slightest consequences in the 2019 election. They only want to murder ballot snatchers that aren't APC thugs.

It is obvious that the 2023 election is already rigged more than a year before it will take place. But if they are allowed to get away with it again, forget about democracy ever taking roots. Nigeria would officially be a rigocracy.

LordviccoDaGuru:
No election in Nigeria in 2027 The military is taking over. Go and write it down 👇

RealLordZeus:
It's been long i saw your post... So because u no see things chop for this admin now.. make military take over
8 years of Buhari, you stand gidigba , na now day break.. hypocrite
Even Manna no dey post this one oo

RichBoy247:
They don’t want any results at all because we can just decide to switch off internet that day in the opposition stronghold. Una go cry blood

LordviccoDaGuru:
No election in Nigeria in 2027 The military is taking over. Go and write it down 👇

hegelian:
God forbid.. As much as I don't want Tinubu as president, if he wins, we are all gonna pray he succeed like I'm praying for him now even though he is failing.. Why una hate the country loke this?? Na so u defended Buhari for 8yrs, defended impunity for 8yrs, defended Boko Haram and bandits till now.. If you continue to feed a python, it will eventually consume u as well..

Tooreda:
This is what I expect Atiku and Obi to be clamouring for. Tinubu is a regressive fellow who would want every means to manipulate result.

MEGAWATCH:
You are praying for a former Drug Criminal to succeed.

Also pray for Evans the kidnapper to regain his freedom and be your governor as well.

Nigerians are religiously stupid, sincerely speaking.


🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

LordviccoDaGuru:
No election in Nigeria in 2027 The military is taking over. Go and write it down 👇

Neyozy1:
If you sends a data/collated results to the internet via the BVAS it will remain unaltered irrespective of the availability of network service and such data will be retrieved immediately the holder of the BVAS gets to an area where there is network coverage

Amumaigwe:
GSM penetration is almost 100%. BTW, the transmission operation can still be initiated in offline mode and updates the irev as soon as network is restored.

OnyeObowo1:
I told someone this about information I got he refused..

What Israel is cooking behind scene will shock them ...