NCSCN urges calm over protest against National Assembly on electoral amendment
- NCSCN urges restraint amidst protests over electronic transmission of election results amendment
- Council clarifies that Senate did not abolish, but rejected mandatory real-time transmission for results
- NCSCN warns against politicisation of protests, calling for constructive engagement on electoral reform
The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has called for restraint amid ongoing protests against the National Assembly over its decision not to make real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory.
Addressing journalists at what it described as an emergency session and first State of the Nation press conference for 2026, the Council said the controversy surrounding the proposed amendment to Clause 60 of the Electoral Act required careful analysis rather than agitation.
Source: Facebook
The Council said the purpose of the briefing was to “critically look into the burning national issue and protest to the National Assembly as it has to do with the proposed amendment particularly to Clause 60 of the Electoral Act.”
Senate did not reject electronic transmission, says council
Clarifying the matter, the Council stated that the Senate did not abolish electronic transmission of results but rejected making it compulsory in real time.
Quoting the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Adeyemi Adaramodu, the Council noted: “Electronic transmission remains part of the law, and results will continue to be available to the public both electronically and through physical forms, ensuring verifiable records for disputes. What the Senate rejected is mandatory electronic transmission of result in real-time.”
According to the Council, the current provision in the 2022 Electoral Act allows results to be counted, recorded and publicly announced at polling units before being transmitted electronically.
Under the retained framework, presiding officers are required to count votes in the presence of party agents and observers, record the results on official forms, announce them publicly and then transmit them electronically to collation centres.
Real-time upload would alter existing process
The Council explained that the proposed mandatory real-time transmission would require presiding officers to upload results directly to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal as voting takes place.
It noted that advocates of the proposal argue that such a system would reduce human involvement, eliminate errors, enhance speed and improve transparency.
However, it also highlighted concerns raised by senators who opposed the amendment. Lawmakers reportedly argued that network inconsistencies, particularly in rural communities, could lead to disputes and undermine the credibility of elections. They also cited the risk of cyber threats and technological failure.
The Council observed that the Senate later reviewed its earlier decision and modified the provision to state that there “shall” be electronic transmission of results, but where this becomes impossible, physical result forms would serve as the primary instrument for verification.
Global examples cited in debate
In its address, the NCSCN referenced several advanced democracies, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the United States and Canada, which do not rely on real-time electronic transmission of results.
Source: UGC
It also cited examples of countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, which attempted real-time transmission but later reverted to manual compilation following political backlash.
Brazil and Venezuela were mentioned as countries using real-time systems, with the Council noting that disputes over election outcomes have still arisen in those jurisdictions.
Call for civil society to avoid politicisation
Taking a critical view of the protests, the Council alleged that many of those leading the agitation were affiliated with political parties.
“In conclusion, taking a forensic look at the major actors in the nationwide agitation and protest to the National Assembly, one would agree that they are all Card Carrying Members of Political Parties and Gladiators of Opposition Parties, hence, should not disguise themselves as Civil Society Leaders or Activists,” the Council said.
While acknowledging that Nigeria’s democratic journey remains a work in progress, the NCSCN urged stakeholders not to inflame tensions.
“We may not be where we wish to be yet, however, we are far from where we used to be and we must collectively consolidate on the gains made so far, rather than overheating the polity and taking steps that may lead to anarchy or breakdown of law and order,” it stated.
The Council called on civil society organisations across the country to distance themselves from the ongoing protests and instead engage constructively on the electoral reform process.
Source: Legit.ng
