Tension don high for National Assembly as Senate and House of Representatives members meet today to agree on how election results go dey transmitted from polling units to Independent National Electoral Commission result portal.
The 24-man harmonisation committee — 12 from Senate and 12 from House — gather for National Assembly Complex as pressure dey mount on lawmakers, especially House members, to abandon compulsory real-time electronic transmission of results.
Reports show say heavy lobbying don start ahead of the meeting, with strong indication say ruling All Progressives Congress dey push make lawmakers adopt Senate version of Section 60(3) of the Electoral Act. The Senate version allow both electronic and manual transmission of results and remove the “real-time” requirement.
Findings show say APC leaders more comfortable with the Senate position because e give flexibility, especially where network failure fit happen. The Senate version also make Form EC8A the main document if electronic transmission fail, a move critics say fit open loopholes for manipulation.
House version, on the other hand, insist on real-time electronic upload of results from polling units to IReV. Civil society groups and opposition parties argue say this go reduce rigging and boost transparency.
Former IPAC Chairman, Chief Peter Ameh, don criticize Senate amendment, say e no change anything meaningful and only add condition wey fit encourage confusion and distrust for electoral process.
Inside the committee, sources say House members dey insist on their version, while Senate members dey push their own. Senator Seriake Dickson openly support House position, urging the committee to adopt am fully, say na the one wey follow agreement with INEC and stakeholders.
Another senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, say real-time e-transmission na key to transparency and public trust, stressing say democracy must grow with technology.
But APC lawmakers defend Senate flexibility, arguing say Nigeria no get strong network and power infrastructure everywhere. One APC lawmaker say if real-time upload fail because of network, e no make sense to void election results.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, insist say Senate decision base on data, not sentiment. He quote figures from Nigerian Communications Commission, say broadband coverage still low and power supply weak, making compulsory real-time upload risky.
According to am, making real-time transmission mandatory fit cause crisis, especially for rural areas without network or electricity.
As harmonisation committee dey meet, three options dey on table: adopt House strict real-time clause, endorse Senate flexible model, or find middle ground. Whatever decision dem take go shape 2027 elections and Nigerians’ confidence in the democratic process.
Many Nigerians dey watch closely to see whether transparency or political calculation go win at the end.
