₦airaland Forum

The Senator representing Ekiti State District, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has disclosed the real reason behind the removal of “real time” from the 2026 Electoral Bill.


He clarified this in a statement issued through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs on Sunday.

Bamidele explained that the Senate had previously rejected Clause 60(3) of the bill, which mandated that the presiding officer “shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time…”.

The clause was subsequently redrafted to retain electronic transmission of results while omitting the “real time” requirement.

Bamidele described Clause 60(3) as “an initiative that any legislature or parliament globally would ordinarily have embraced.”

He added that the Senate had to consider the country’s infrastructural realities before making its decision.

Drawing on data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Bamidele noted that broadband coverage stood at about 70 percent in 2025, while internet penetration was 44.53 percent of the population.

He cited the Speedtest Global Index, which ranked Nigeria 85th out of 105 countries in mobile network reliability and 129th out of 150 countries in fixed broadband reliability.

“Based on the Speedtest Global Index, Nigeria’s mobile network reliability was 44.14 megabits per second. This is extremely low compared with the UAE, which has 691.76 mbps; Qatar with 573.53 mbps; Kuwait with 415.67 mbps; Bahrain with 303.21 mbps; and Bulgaria with 289.41 mbps.

“The Index placed Nigeria far below the global average.

“Nigeria’s fixed internet broadband rating is quite low by global standards. Out of 150 countries, Nigeria occupied the 129th position with only 33.32 mbps.

“In this rating, Singapore came first with 410.06 mbps, followed by the UAE with 382.35 mbps; France with 346.25 mbps; Chile with 348.41 mbps; and Hong Kong with 345.25 mbps,” he stated.

He further highlighted that around 85 million Nigerians, roughly 43 percent of the population, lack access to grid electricity.

“This shortfall speaks to the state of our power infrastructure. Even though our generation capacity hovers roughly between 12,000 and 13,500 megawatts, our distribution and transmission capacity are acutely limited.

“As we all know, it can only deliver 4,500 megawatts to households nationwide. But with the Electricity Act, 2025, our power sector will record significant growth from this financial year,” the lawmaker added.

Bamidele warned that enforcing real-time transmission under these conditions could lead to instability.

“The data speak directly to the stark realities of our federation, not emotion or sentiment. As representatives of the people, we cannot enact laws based purely on public emotion or sentiment,” he stated.

According to the Senate leader, the removal of “real time” aims to ensure the electoral framework aligns with Nigeria’s current capabilities while still addressing public concerns about transparency

Freshtruth:
It will be better to allow Tinubu continue let him rule his 8years cause it will be dangerous to hand this country to obi or Atiku to start afresh the mistake we all made 2015 with popular Buhari shouldn't be made again we all knew how it ended at least the fuel prices is going down a little, food stuff is prices is going down also pls sit down and think before u cast that vote am not a tinubu supporter, forget the brain washing look at the workings does Anambra has a standard stadium? Does Anambra has an airport under obi? Does Anambra has means of generating money? How many men has obi raise? Saving money is not achievement putting the money in use for development that is achievement. Wisdom they say is profitable to direct.

Ofunaofu:
2015 taught us not to vote based on propaganda. It also taught us not to reward performance with blind loyalty.

Let him finish 8 years is not a campaign strategy.
Elections are performance reviews, not emotional attachments.

Since when did we reduce leadership to stadiums and airports?
While Tinubu is building a coastal highway, Nigerians are facing one of the toughest economic and security crises in our history. Big projects make headlines, functioning systems make lives better.
Development is not loud projects; it’s systems that work.

If saving money isn’t an achievement, then why are we drowning in debt today? Financial discipline is governance. Stability is governance. Security is governance.

We shouldn't be talking about let him complete it.
Rather, has he earned it?

iwaeda:
Just to perfect their rigging plan, but Nigerians are more ready to defend their votes.

Freshtruth:
It will be better to allow Tinubu continue let him rule his 8years cause it will be dangerous to hand this country to obi or Atiku to start afresh the mistake we all made 2015 with popular Buhari shouldn't be made again we all knew how it ended at least the fuel prices is going down a little, food stuff is prices is going down also pls sit down and think before u cast that vote am not a tinubu supporter, forget the brain washing look at the workings does Anambra has a standard stadium? Does Anambra has an airport under obi? Does Anambra has means of generating money? How many men has obi raise? Saving money is not achievement putting the money in use for development that is achievement. Wisdom they say is profitable to direct.

UkoAnnang:


The Nigerian Senate is nothing but a company of criminals

Freshtruth:
It will be better to allow Tinubu continue let him rule his 8years cause it will be dangerous to hand this country to obi or Atiku to start afresh the mistake we all made 2015 with popular Buhari shouldn't be made again we all knew how it ended at least the fuel prices is going down a little, food stuff is prices is going down also pls sit down and think before u cast that vote am not a tinubu supporter, forget the brain washing look at the workings does Anambra has a standard stadium? Does Anambra has an airport under obi? Does Anambra has means of generating money? How many men has obi raise? Saving money is not achievement putting the money in use for development that is achievement. Wisdom they say is profitable to direct.

Burob:
Advanced Democratic Criminals (ADC).

Freshtruth:
It will be better to allow Tinubu continue let him rule his 8years cause it will be dangerous to hand this country to obi or Atiku to start afresh the mistake we all made 2015 with popular Buhari shouldn't be made again we all knew how it ended at least the fuel prices is going down a little, food stuff is prices is going down also pls sit down and think before u cast that vote am not a tinubu supporter, forget the brain washing look at the workings does Anambra has a standard stadium? Does Anambra has an airport under obi? Does Anambra has means of generating money? How many men has obi raise? Saving money is not achievement putting the money in use for development that is achievement. Wisdom they say is profitable to direct.

Freshtruth:
It will be better to allow Tinubu continue let him rule his 8years cause it will be dangerous to hand this country to obi or Atiku to start afresh the mistake we all made 2015 with popular Buhari shouldn't be made again we all knew how it ended at least the fuel prices is going down a little, food stuff is prices is going down also pls sit down and think before u cast that vote am not a tinubu supporter, forget the brain washing look at the workings does Anambra has a standard stadium? Does Anambra has an airport under obi? Does Anambra has means of generating money? How many men has obi raise? Saving money is not achievement putting the money in use for development that is achievement. Wisdom they say is profitable to direct.

Burob:
Tinubu, Tinubu, Tinubu, not once have u ever mentioned your state or local government, are u an indigene of Abuja?

UkoAnnang:
Al-qaeda People's Congress

Ofunaofu:
Tinubu mentioned Goodluck Jonathan throughout and never once blamed his state governor or local government chairman.

He told Jonathan that on matters of insecurity, the buck stops at his table and even advised him to resign if he could not solve the insecurity ravaging the nation at the time.

Nigerians are now asking him to heed that same advice, since insecurity is even worse today.