Exclusive sources tell OBSERVERS TIMES the Senate is poised to adopt a simultaneous approach to election-result management: mandatory electronic transmission to INEC’s IREV portal in polling units with reliable network and power, and manual collation in areas without connectivity.
A Senate insider said the decision — expected to be formalised at today’s emergency plenary convened by Senate President Godswill Akpabio — is aimed at preventing the disenfranchisement of voters in rural and network‑poor communities while preserving the benefits of e‑transmission in urban and well‑served areas.
“It will be a twin system: e‑transmission where the network and power permit, and manual collation where they do not. The idea is to ensure nobody is disenfranchised,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
The emergency sitting — summoned in a memo dated 8 February and signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo — follows nationwide outrage over amendments to the Electoral Act, especially the Senate’s removal of the word “real‑time” from clauses on electronic transmission of results. Critics say the change weakens safeguards against post‑poll manipulation; protesters have demonstrated at the National Assembly demanding reinstatement of “real‑time” transmission.
The upper chamber had adjourned for two weeks after passing the amendment bill to allow lawmakers to defend budget proposals before Ministries, Departments and Agencies. The sudden recall for an emergency plenary and the disclosed dual‑track approach suggest senators are attempting a compromise that balances transparency with practical realities on the ground.
Senate leaders have repeatedly insisted they did not reject electronic transmission outright. Over the weekend, Senate President Akpabio, speaking at a book launch, emphasised that work on the Electoral Act amendments was ongoing and that further consultations would continue.
If adopted, the dual system would direct votes from connected polling units to the IREV portal in near‑real time while preserving paper processes and manual collation in black‑spot areas — a model supporters say could blunt accusations of exclusion. Opponents warn that bifurcating the process risks creating two standards of verification and new legal questions about reconciliation of electronically transmitted and manually collated results.
Today’s session will be closely watched by civil society groups, political parties and protesters, who have called for full transparency and the reinstatement of explicit “real‑time” mandates. It will also test whether the Senate can craft a solution that addresses both technical constraints and public demand for electoral integrity.
Requests for comment sent to the Clerk of the Senate and the office of the Senate President were not immediately answered. This report will be updated when official responses are received.
