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Senate leader says gaps in power and communications make real-time transmission unfeasible.
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Clause 60(3) of Electoral Bill 2026 revised; Form EC8A remains backup.
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Broadband coverage at 70%, internet penetration 44.53%, 43% of Nigerians off-grid.
Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria majority leader, stated that Nigeria is not yet equipped to implement mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results nationwide.
Bamidele explained that infrastructural gaps in electricity and communications prevent reliable nationwide uploads from polling units.
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The statement, issued by his directorate of media and public affairs, followed the Senate’s review of clause 60(3) of the Electoral Bill 2026.
The clause mandates presiding officers to transmit results electronically in real time to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). The Senate retained electronic transmission but added that Form EC8A will serve as the primary tool in the event of internet failure.
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Citing data from the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Speedtest Global Index, Bamidele noted that broadband coverage stood at 70% in 2025, internet penetration at 44.53%, mobile network reliability ranked 85th globally, and fixed broadband ranked 129th out of 150 countries.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s energy deficit, revealing that 85 million citizens, about 43% of the population, lack access to grid electricity, further complicating real-time electronic result transmission.
Bamidele emphasized that while real-time transmission is a globally embraced electoral innovation, Nigeria’s current infrastructure constraints require cautious implementation.