The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened nationwide protests and a possible boycott of future elections 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 issued on Sunday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, expressed concern that the Senate has failed to clearly state whether electronic transmission of results would be mandatory, warning that the ambiguity could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to the labour union, recent developments surrounding the Electoral Act amendment have created widespread uncertainty, especially following the Senate’s decision to retain provisions that allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) discretion in transmitting election results.
The NLC noted that public records indicate the Senate rejected a proposal that would have made real-time electronic transmission of results compulsory, choosing instead to preserve the existing clause that permits INEC to determine the method of result transmission.
“This situation has generated nationwide apprehension, and subsequent explanations have only deepened the confusion,” the Congress said, stressing that Nigerians deserve a transparent electoral system where votes are not only counted but seen to be counted.
The labour body warned that legislative ambiguity at such a critical time could weaken electoral integrity and institutionalise doubt ahead of future elections.
It therefore demanded that the Senate provide an immediate, official, and unambiguous explanation of the final provisions passed, including the exact wording and rationale behind its decision.
The NLC also called on the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that the harmonisation process between the Senate and the House of Representatives produces a clear and decisive legal framework, particularly on the transmission and collation of election results.
It insisted that the amended Electoral Act must explicitly compel INEC to electronically transmit and collate results from polling units in real time, warning that failure to do so could trigger mass protests before, during, and after elections.
The warning follows the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 on February 4. During the process, lawmakers rejected an amendment to Clause 60(3) that sought to mandate real-time electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
The Senate’s decision has drawn criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, especially as it contrasts with the position of the House of Representatives, which earlier approved mandatory electronic transmission. The difference now requires reconciliation by a conference committee before the bill can be forwarded to the President for assent.
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has defended the Senate’s action, saying lawmakers did not scrap electronic transmission but merely removed the term “real-time” to avoid legal and technical challenges. He said the change was intended to give INEC flexibility in addressing network and security concerns.
Despite the controversy, the amendment bill introduces other reforms, including digital voter identification using QR codes and tougher penalties for electoral offences.
The NLC, however, warned that Nigerian workers and citizens are closely watching developments, urging lawmakers to prioritise clarity, transparency, and public trust in the nation’s electoral laws.
