Nigerian Senate poised to enforce electronic result transmission, diaspora voting, and more in electoral act amendment

The Nigerian Senate is on the verge of amending the 2022 Electoral Act, introducing a range of significant changes to the electoral process. These amendments will make the electronic transmission of election results mandatory, allow the uploading of polling unit-level results and result sheets used at different collation levels, and permit diaspora voting for presidential elections.

This important development was confirmed in a communiqué released by the upper legislative chamber following its retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa-Ibom State.

The Senate stressed the need to unbundle the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a means of enhancing its efficiency and effectiveness in preparing and conducting elections. Key points from the communiqué include:

1. Clarification of Technology Use: The amendment aims to remove any ambiguity in Section 64 of the 2022 Electoral Act concerning the use of technology in elections.
2. Mandatory Electronic Result Transmission: Starting from the 2027 general elections, electronic transmission of results will become a mandatory procedure. This will also encompass the uploading of polling unit-level results and result sheets used at various collation levels.
3. Diaspora Voting: The Senate will introduce diaspora voting, initially for presidential elections. This will allow citizens abroad, particularly those serving in essential roles such as the military, paramilitary, embassy staff, and others, to participate in the electoral process.
4. Political Parties Compliance: Sanctions will be imposed on political parties that fail to submit their registers of party members no later than 30 days before party primaries, congresses, or conventions, as stipulated in Section 77(3) of the 2022 Electoral Act. This requirement was not adhered to by political parties during the 2023 elections without any penalties.

In addition to these electoral changes, the Senate also emphasized the necessity of developing and enacting a comprehensive national security strategy that outlines the nation’s security objectives, threats, and policy priorities. Such a strategy would serve as a guiding framework for legislative action in the security sector.