Deep Dive: Agbakoba Urges Nigeria's National Assembly to Amend Electoral Act for Mandatory Electronic Transmission Before 2027 Elections

Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, speaking as a legal expert and former NBA president, has called on Nigeria's National Assembly to take legislative action by amending the Electoral Act. The National Assembly holds authority under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to legislate on electoral matters, including modifications to the Electoral Act 2022, which currently governs election processes but does not mandate electronic transmission of results. A supreme court ruling has established that the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV, Independent National Electoral Commission's online platform for viewing election results) lacks statutory backing, creating legal uncertainty in the use of technology for result transmission. This institutional context underscores the need for explicit legislation to integrate technological innovations into the electoral framework. Precedents for electoral reform in Nigeria include past amendments to the Electoral Act and historical events like June 12, which Agbakoba cites as a model for reform ahead of 2027. The National Assembly's bicameral structure—Senate and House of Representatives—must pass any amendment, subject to presidential assent, building on prior cycles of post-election disputes that have strained judicial resources. Without statutory force, electronic systems like IReV remain vulnerable to challenges, perpetuating reliance on manual processes prone to errors and litigation. Concrete consequences include prolonged electoral disputes affecting governance stability, as post-election litigation delays inauguration of officials and diverts resources from policy implementation. Citizens face extended uncertainty in leadership transitions, while communities experience disruptions in service delivery. For governance structures, enshrining electronic transmission would establish verifiable digital records, reducing litigation volume and enhancing public trust in electoral outcomes through immediate accessibility. The outlook for 2027 hinges on timely National Assembly action; failure to amend could repeat patterns of contested results, while success would align Nigeria's electoral system with modern standards, minimizing disputes through legally binding real-time verification.