The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned of possible nationwide protests and even an election boycott over what it described as confusion and contradictory signals from the Senate regarding amendments to the Electoral Act — particularly on the electronic transmission of election results.
In a statement on Sunday, NLC President Joe Ajaero expressed deep concern that the Senate has failed to clearly state whether electronic transmission of results will be mandatory, a situation the labour body said undermines public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress expresses deep concern over the confusion and contradictory narratives emerging from the Senate regarding the amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act, particularly on electronic transmission of results,” Ajaero said.
According to the NLC, public records indicate that a proposal to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results electronically in real time was rejected, while the existing provision — which leaves the mode of transmission to INEC’s discretion — was retained.
The union said the lack of clarity over the Senate’s final position threatens electoral integrity, stressing that Nigerians deserve a transparent system “where votes are not only counted but seen to be counted.”
It added that subsequent explanations from lawmakers have only deepened public apprehension, warning that legislative ambiguity at a sensitive political period could institutionalise distrust in the electoral process.
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The NLC called on the Senate to issue an “immediate, official, and unambiguous account” of the exact provisions passed, including the final wording of the clause and the rationale behind its decision.
It also urged the National Assembly leadership to ensure the harmonisation process with the House of Representatives produces a final bill with clear and explicit provisions on result transmission and collation.
“Any ambiguity in the transmission and collation of results is a disservice to our democracy,” the statement said.
The Congress insisted that the amended Electoral Act must include a clear legal mandate compelling INEC to electronically transmit and collate results from polling units in real time. It warned that failure to do so could trigger mass action.
“Failure to include real-time electronic transmission will lead to mass action before, during, and after the election, or a total boycott of the election. Nigerian workers and citizens are watching closely.”
The NLC urged lawmakers to prioritise clarity and integrity in the lawmaking process, saying Nigeria must avoid a repeat of policy confusion similar to what trailed recent tax legislation.
The warning follows the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 through third reading on February 4, 2026.
During consideration of the bill, the Senate rejected an amendment to Clause 60(3) that sought to make electronic transmission of results mandatory. The proposed provision would have required INEC presiding officers to upload polling unit results electronically to the IReV portal in real time after result forms were signed and stamped.
Instead, the Senate retained the existing clause allowing results to be transmitted “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission,” thereby preserving INEC’s discretion.
The decision has sparked criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who argue that reliance on manual collation raises the risk of manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Senate’s stance differs from that of the House of Representatives, which earlier approved mandatory electronic transmission. This divergence means a conference committee will harmonise both versions before the bill is sent to the President for assent.
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified that the Senate did not abolish electronic transmission but removed the phrase “real-time” to avoid legal and technical complications.
He said the adjustment gives INEC flexibility to adopt the most suitable transmission method in view of network and security challenges, while reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to electoral laws that reflect the will of Nigerians.
Despite the controversy, the amendment bill introduces other reforms, including digital voter identification using QR codes and stiffer penalties for electoral offences.