Adopt Real-Time Transmission or Face Legal War, Activists Tell Lawmakers

Adopt Real-Time Transmission or Face Legal War, Activists Tell Lawmakers

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

For the second consecutive day, civil society organisations led by ActionAid Nigeria stormed the National Assembly of Nigeria, demanding that lawmakers adopt mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026 or risk a wave of legal battles across the country.

The protesters, who had gathered a day earlier to register their displeasure, returned in larger numbers, vowing to sustain pressure until the harmonisation committee adopts in totality the House of Representatives’ version of the proposed amendment.

At the heart of the protest is the controversy surrounding electronic transmission of results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Civil society groups argue that unless the law clearly makes real-time electronic transmission mandatory and unconditional, loopholes for manipulation during collation will persist ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Addressing the crowd, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, insisted that the demand was straightforward and non-negotiable.

“Real-time electronic transmission of results. Mandatory. Without any condition,” he declared.

He said Nigeria had already addressed loopholes in voter accreditation through the use of technology and must now close gaps in result transmission where manipulation allegedly occurs.

“We have covered the loopholes in voting which now leads to accreditation. Now what we want to cover is the loophole in the transmission of results where the manipulation normally happens,” he said.

Mamedu urged Nigerians to question their senators and House of Representatives members, stressing that real-time transmission would create a level playing field for all political actors.

“It creates a level playing field for anybody who wants to participate in elections,” he added.

Convener of Lawyer in Defence of Democracy and Human Rights, Okere Nnamdi, warned that anything short of the House version of the bill would trigger mass litigation.

“We are calling on the committee of the House of Representatives and the Senate to now harmonise the two versions of the bill, to adopt in totality the House of Representatives version of the 2026 proposed amendment bill,” he said.

He issued a strong warning to lawmakers and the Presidency.

“If anything short of the House of Representatives version is finally endorsed and accepted by the President, I assure you that there will be over 1,000 litigations, public interest cases against the 2026 electoral bill,” Nnamdi stated.

He cautioned against alleged behind-the-scenes interference, saying history would judge members of the harmonisation committee based on their actions.

Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, said persons with disabilities estimated at over 35 million stand firmly behind the House version.

“No real time transmission is no credible election. Enough is enough,” Epelle declared.

He added that citizens would not back down.

“We refuse to give in. We refuse to give up. We will not throw in the towel,” he said, adding that Nigerians must use their voices to defend democracy.

The protest comes amid growing national debate over amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly provisions relating to electronic transmission of results.

Civil society groups argue that mandatory real-time uploads directly from polling units to IReV will reduce disputes, prevent tampering during collation, and restore public trust in the electoral system.

As the harmonisation process continues at the National Assembly, activists have vowed to maintain pressure and, if necessary, shift their battle to the courts until what they describe as a credible and transparent framework is secured for Nigeria’s elections.