The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has called on the Conference Committee of the National Assembly to adopt the House of Representatives’ version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026, citing national interest and the need to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral credibility.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, the CNPP expressed concern over the Senate’s decision to retain provisions that give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) discretionary powers over the electronic transmission of election results.
The CNPP described the Senate’s position as “anti-democratic,” warning that it could undermine public confidence in the electoral process if allowed to remain in the amended law.
According to the organisation, the House of Representatives’ version of the bill makes electronic transmission of results from polling units mandatory and compels Presiding Officers to upload results to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time immediately after declaration at the polling unit. The House version also removes INEC’s discretion to determine the mode of result transmission.
The CNPP said these provisions represent essential safeguards needed to guarantee transparent, credible, and verifiable elections in Nigeria.
Reacting to the Senate’s stance, the umbrella body of registered political parties argued that retaining discretionary transmission provisions preserves weaknesses that have historically enabled electoral malpractice. It referenced the controversies surrounding the 2023 general elections, particularly the failure to ensure real-time electronic transmission of results, which it said led to widespread public distrust and numerous post-election litigations.
The organisation also warned of the legal implications of retaining discretionary clauses, noting that the Supreme Court’s October 2023 ruling upheld INEC’s wide discretionary powers under the Electoral Act 2022. According to the CNPP, maintaining similar provisions in the 2026 amendment would continue to limit legal remedies available to aggrieved parties in election disputes.
The CNPP further identified risks such as potential manipulation during manual collation, increased voter apathy, weakened institutional accountability, and restricted grounds for legal challenges as consequences of not mandating electronic transmission.
While acknowledging challenges such as poor network coverage in some areas, the group maintained that operational flexibility should not override the need for accountability and enforceable legal standards.
The CNPP called on the Conference Committee to fully adopt the House provisions, remove all discretionary clauses relating to result transmission, and provide statutory backing that makes failure to electronically transmit results a punishable electoral offence, except under clearly defined and verifiable circumstances.
The organisation stressed that electoral transparency is critical to Nigeria’s democratic stability, national unity, and peaceful political transitions, adding that mandatory electronic transmission of results has become a global democratic standard.
“The Nigerian people have consistently demanded credible and transparent elections,” the statement said, urging lawmakers to prioritise electoral integrity over political expediency.
The CNPP reaffirmed its support for electoral reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and electoral justice, stating that history would judge the National Assembly by its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
