YERP-NAIJA Consortium Rejects Akpabio Led Nigerian Senate’s Decision On Electoral Act Amendment 

By Joseph Sunday 

A Youth-led Electoral Reform Project, VERP-Naija Consortium has formally rejected the Senator Godswill Akpabio led Nigerian Senate’s decision to throw away the most desired portion of the Country’s Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which is seeking to make real – time the electronic transmission of election results from polling units mandatory.

It would be recalled that the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 4th of February, 2026 during its plenary session read the Electoral Act Amendment Bill for the third time, and subjected it to an extensive debate after which the most valuable and nationally accepted portion of the bill passed by House of Representatives in December 2025 was thrown out. 

The above statement as jointly signed by the Executive Director, Kimpact Development initiative, KDI who doubled as Abuja YERP-Naija National Coordinator and North Central Partner, Mr Bukola Idowu; the Executive Director, J-DEV Foundation, Kaduna YERP Naija North West Partner, Mr Zigwai Ayuba; the Executive Director, The New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative Ado Ekiti YERP-NAIJA Southwest Partner, Mrs Abimbola Aladejare Salako; the Executive Director, Catch Them Young Community Initiative, Awka YERP-NAIJA Southwest East Partner; the Executive Director, Connected Advocacy for Edo YERP-NAIJA Southwest South Partner, Mr Israel Orekha as well as the Executive Director, Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative, Yola YERP-NAIJA North East Partner, Mr Ashraf Tukur. 

The rejected amendment would have required presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (NEC) to electronically transmit results directly from polling units immediately after completion of voting and collation, instead, the Senate retained the existing statutory framework, which allows results to be transmitted in a manner prescribed administratively by INEC, rather than through a clear and enforceable legal obligation.

The Consortium notes that while the current law allows INEC to decide on electronic transmission or not, the refusal to make it mandatory weakens statutory certainty and limits the transparency safeguards required to strengthen public confidence in electoral outcomes. 

For many Nigerians, particularly young voters, mandatory electronic transmission represented a practical and visible pathway toward rebuilding trust in the electoral process.

YERP-Naija recognises that the outcome from the Senate does not close the door on advancing this provision. 

The forthcoming harmonisation process between the Senate and the House of Representatives presents an opportunity for reconsideration and alignment with broader stakeholder expectations. 

The YERP-Naija Consortium however called on the conference committee to reconcile the differences and propose adjustments that reflect Nigeria’s youth demand and the reforms that would strengthened participation and trust in the 2027 general elections.

The Consortium called on the citizens, civil society, labour unions, professional bodies, youth networks, and the media to actively engage the Senate leadership and members to reconsider and reverse its decision, in the interest of safeguarding democratic integrity and the collective will of the people

In addition, the Consortium also called attention to the broader timeline of electoral reform, which revealed that the amendment process already spanned over two years, while constitutional amendment deliberations with direct electoral implications are yet to gain comparable traction. 

“With time running out for preparations for the 2027 general elections, prolonged delays or diluted reforms risk limiting implementation effectiveness and weakening public confidence in the process. Electoral legislation must not only be passed; it must be passed early enough to be meaningfully applied.

“Credible elections depend on transparent, predictable, and enforceable legal standards. Reforms that preserve ambiguity or excessive administrative discretion risk perpetuating systemic challenges observed in previous election cycles. 

“At the same time, sustained civic engagement and legislative responsiveness remain powerful tools for shaping outcomes that reflect the collective interest of Nigerians..

“Nigeria stands at a defining moment in its democratic journey. The decisions taken during this reform cycle will influence electoral credibility, political stability, and citizen trust for years to come. 

“The YERP-Naija Consortium remains committed to advancing youth-driven, evidence-based electoral reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and inclusive democratic governance across Nigeria.