2027: Akpabio Defends Removal of Mandatory Electronic Transmission from Electoral Act
Ahead of the 2027 general election, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has defended the decision of the National Assembly to remove mandatory electronic transmission of election results from the amended Electoral Act.
TRENDBROI reports that the Senate last week expunged the provision requiring compulsory real-time electronic transmission of results, a move that has sparked widespread criticism across the country.
Opposition parties, civil society groups and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have since called on lawmakers to reverse the decision, warning that it could undermine the credibility of future elections.
Responding to the controversy at the launch of a book authored by former senator Effiong Bob, titled The Burdens of Legislators in Nigeria, Akpabio dismissed the criticisms, stressing that the conduct of elections falls solely within the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to the Senate President, the decision was informed by practical challenges, particularly insecurity and poor network coverage in parts of the country.
Akpabio stated that there is no reliable network in at least nine states of the federation due to insecurity, arguing that compulsory real-time transmission could invalidate election results from such areas.
“Real-time transmission means that in over nine states where networks are not working because of insecurity, there will be no election results,” he said.
“Nationally, it means that if the national grid collapses and no network is working, no election results will be valid.”
He further urged Nigerians to channel their grievances to INEC, noting that the electoral umpire, not the legislature, is responsible for deploying election technology.
“The Senate does not conduct elections, we don’t deploy technology, we only make laws. INEC must apply the law,” Akpabio said.
He also took a swipe at some critics of the amendment, describing them as uninformed about the legislative process.
“The timing, scope and modality rest with INEC, acting within the framework of the law enacted by the parliament and interpreted by the Supreme Court,” the Senate President added.
