The debate surrounding electoral reform in Nigeria remains one of the most consequential conversations in our democratic evolution. More than two decades after the return to civilian rule, elections continue to test the strength of our institutions, the integrity of our laws, and the confidence of the electorate.
As legal practitioners engaged in constitutional law, governance, and public interest advocacy, LawHavenSolicitors & Advocates considers it necessary to examine the present state of Nigeria’s electioneering process, the persistent weaknesses in the Electoral Act, the unresolved controversies surrounding the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, and the central role that real-time electronic transmission of results must play in restoring public trust. This discourse is not merely academic; it goes to the heart of democratic legitimacy in Nigeria.
The Present State of Electioneering in Nigeria: Persistent Challenges and Structural Weaknesses
Nigeria’s electoral journey since 1999 has been characterized by a paradox of progress and regression. While democratic continuity has been maintained, elections have repeatedly been marred by allegations of malpractice and systemic failure. Common features across election cycles include vote-buying, voter intimidation, logistical failures, ballot snatching, and manipulation of results during collation.
The enactment of the Electoral Act 2022 marked a significant legislative milestone. It introduced notable innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and opened the door to electronic transmission of results. These reforms were intended to address longstanding issues of multiple voting and accreditation fraud.
However, the conduct of the 2023 general elections revealed serious shortcomings in both the law and its implementation. Several fault lines became evident:
Ambiguity in statutory language: Provisions such as sections 60(5) and 64(4)–(5) refer to “transfer” and “direct transmission” of results without precise definitions. This lack of clarity created room for conflicting interpretations and became fertile ground for post-election litigation.
Absence of mandatory real-time upload to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, leaving result transmission largely discretionary and undermining transparency when results at collation centres differed from polling unit outcomes.
Human interference and logistical gaps, including delayed commencement of polls, compromised collation processes, and weak enforcement of penalties for electoral offences.
Broader institutional concerns, such as perceived political interference in electoral administration, late release of funds to INEC, insecurity in certain regions leading to voter suppression, and an overburdened judiciary struggling with prolonged election petitions.
Over time, these issues have eroded public confidence, turning elections into high-stakes contests whose outcomes are often determined in courtrooms rather than at the ballot box. While BVAS significantly improved voter accreditation, its impact was blunted by the inconsistent handling of result transmission, leaving many Nigerians questioning the credibility of declared outcomes.
The Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026: Reform Deferred Amid National Debate
Against this backdrop, the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 emerged as a critical opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 general elections. The bill sought to address several recurring deficiencies, including election timelines, funding arrangements for INEC, electoral offences, and the use of technology in voter identification and result management.
However, the legislative process has been marked by controversy. In early February 2026, the Senate passed the bill through third reading but rejected a proposed amendment to Clause 60(3) that would have made real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results to the IReV portal mandatory once result forms were duly signed.
Instead, the Senate retained discretionary language allowing INEC to determine the mode of result transmission. This decision triggered widespread public criticism. Opposition parties, civil society organizations, labour groups, youth movements, and prominent public commentators expressed concern that the rejection undermined the lessons of the 2023 elections and weakened transparency safeguards.
Public demonstrations followed, with protesters demanding that the National Assembly prioritizeelectoral credibility over institutional convenience. Reports that the House of Representatives had adopted stronger reform provisions only intensified calls for harmonization that reflects public interest rather than political expediency.
As at mid-February 2026, the bill remains at the harmonization stage. The ongoing debate highlights a deeper tension in Nigeria’s reform process: while concerns are raised about infrastructure limitations and administrative discretion, many citizens perceive resistance to mandatory transmission as a deliberate step away from meaningful accountability.
The Case for Real-Time Electronic Transmission of Election Results
Real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units to a publicly accessible portal is no longer a radical proposition; it is a practical necessity for credible elections in a modern democracy.
Its advantages are both legal and operational:
Transparency and immediate verification: Once results are uploaded in real time, citizens, political parties, observers, and the media can independently verify outcomes as they emerge;
Reduction of manipulation risks: By limiting manual handling of results during collation, opportunities for alteration or substitution are significantly reduced;
Faster and more orderly collation: Timely transmission minimizes delays that often breed tension, violence, and suspicion;
Improved auditability: Digital records provide a verifiable trail that complements BVAS accreditation data, making it harder to justify figures that exceed accredited voters;
Restoration of public trust: When citizens can see results directly from polling units, confidence in the process increases, even where outcomes are closely contested.
While challenges such as network coverage persist in some locations, the nationwide deployment of BVAS demonstrates that technology-driven reform is achievable with proper planning, funding, and political will. Mandatory transmission may not eliminate all electoral vices, but it would decisively narrow the space for result manipulation.
Our Perspective at LawHaven Solicitors & Advocates and the Way Forward
At LawHaven Solicitors & Advocates, we regard the failure to entrench mandatory real-time electronic transmission in the 2026 amendment process as a missed opportunity. At a time when public trust in electoral institutions is fragile, preserving avoidable ambiguities only deepens cynicism and post-election conflict.
Genuine reform requires more than cautious amendments. It demands clear, enforceable provisions that reduce discretion where it has historically enabled abuse. We strongly urge the National Assembly, in its ongoing harmonization efforts, to restore mandatory electronic transmission of polling unit results, supported by defined timelines, sanctions for non-compliance, and adequate infrastructural commitments.
Beyond this, we recommend:
Inclusive stakeholder engagement, incorporating civil society, election observers, and technical experts before finalizing reforms;
Legislative precision in result management provisions to reduce litigation and judicial overload;
Sustained investment in INEC’s independence, funding, and technical capacity;
Broader constitutional and institutional reforms, including party internal democracy, electoral offence prosecution, and timely resolution of election petitions;
Nigeria’s democracy has endured, but its credibility remains under strain. Transparent, technology-enabled elections are no longer optional, they are essential.
At LawHaven Solicitors & Advocates, we remain committed to advancing legal and policy reforms that strengthen electoral integrity, promote accountability, and reflect the true will of the Nigerian people.
We welcome continued engagement on these issues as we monitor legislative developments and advocate for a more credible electoral framework.