NLC Threatens Nationwide Protests Over Electoral Act Confusion

The Nigeria Labour Congress has warned of possible nationwide protests and election boycotts over what it described as confusion and contradictory positions by the Senate on amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly on the electronic transmission of election results.

In a statement on Sunday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the labour union was concerned about what it called unclear and conflicting narratives from the Senate regarding the amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act.

He said the failure of the Senate to clearly state whether electronic transmission of results would be mandatory was capable of undermining public confidence in the country’s electoral process.

According to him, the lack of clarity over the Senate’s final decision threatens electoral integrity and public trust, stressing that Nigerians deserve a transparent system in which votes are not only counted but seen to be counted.

The NLC said available public records indicated that the proposed amendment to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to transmit results electronically in real time was not adopted, with the existing discretionary provision retained.

It noted that the development had generated nationwide apprehension, adding that subsequent explanations from the Senate had only deepened the confusion.

The labour body warned that such legislative ambiguity at a critical period after the 2023 general elections could institutionalise doubt within the electoral system.

It therefore demanded that the Senate issue an immediate, official and unambiguous account of the exact provisions passed, including the final wording and the rationale behind its decision.

The NLC also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that the harmonisation process produces a final bill with clear provisions, warning that any ambiguity in the transmission and collation of results would be a disservice to democracy.

The congress insisted that the amended Electoral Act must provide a clear mandate compelling INEC to electronically transmit and collate results from polling units in real time, warning that failure to do so could trigger mass action.

It said failure to include real-time electronic transmission could lead to protests before, during and after the election or even a total boycott.

The warning followed the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 through its third reading on February 4.

In passing the bill, the Senate rejected a proposed amendment to Clause 60(3) that would have made electronic transmission of election results mandatory.

The rejected provision sought to compel presiding officers of INEC to transmit results electronically from polling units to the IReV portal in real time after the prescribed result forms had been duly signed and stamped.

Instead, the Senate retained the existing provision of the Electoral Act, which allows results to be transferred in a manner prescribed by the commission, thereby preserving INEC’s discretion on transmission and collation.

The decision has sparked criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who argue that reliance on manual collation increases the risk of manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The position of the Senate also differs from that of the House of Representatives, which had earlier approved mandatory electronic transmission, making it necessary for a conference committee to harmonise both versions before the bill is sent to the President for assent.

Meanwhile, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the Senate did not scrap electronic transmission but only removed the term “real-time” to avoid legal and technical issues.

He said the adjustment would allow INEC the flexibility to choose the most suitable method of transmission, taking into account network and security challenges, and reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to laws that reflect the will of Nigerians.

Despite the controversy, the amendment bill also introduces other reforms, including digital voter identification using QR codes and stiffer penalties for electoral offences.