History has placed a heavy responsibility on the 10th National Assembly. The question is simple: will it strengthen Nigeria’s democracy or weaken it?
The Senate recently rescinded its earlier position and restored electronic transmission of results in Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. On the surface, that looks like progress. We acknowledge that public pressure worked. Civic vigilance forced a reversal. That is good.
But we must not celebrate too early.
The revised clause says electronic transmission will apply “as long as it does not fail.” That phrase is not harmless. It creates a loophole, introduces discretion and opens a door that bad actors can exploit.
What is “failure”? Who determines it? How is it documented? Who verifies it?
The bill does not say.
Ambiguity in election law is dangerous. Elections are not casual events. They determine power. And in Nigeria, power is everything.
Electronic transmission was introduced to reduce manipulation between the polling unit declaration and collation. Its strength lies in speed, transparency, and audit trail. The moment you make it conditional, you weaken it. You turn a safeguard into a suggestion.
THE SENATE SPECIAL CLAUSE IS UNACCEPTABLE
The Senate also designated Form EC8A as the “primary source” of results. Yes, polling unit results are important. But if electronically transmitted results are not treated equally, their value as a transparency tool diminishes. We must not create a hierarchy that undermines technology meant to protect the vote.
The House of Representatives has proposed a clearer position. Its version states that designated officials shall electronically transmit all results in real time to a public portal, and that transmitted results shall verify any other result before collation.
That is firm, clear, and more protective.
THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MUST ADOPT THE STRONGER POSITION
This is where the National Assembly Conference Committee on Electoral Act Harmonisation comes in. Twelve senators, led by Senator Simon Bako Lalong, and twelve House members led by Hon. Adebayo Balogun now carry the burden of history.
They must remember this: Nigerians are watching.
This committee does not owe loyalty to political parties. It owes loyalty to the Constitution and to the Nigerian people.
We cannot continue like this. Courts cannot keep determining our leaders after flawed elections. Democracy should be decided at polling units, not in courtrooms.
Credible elections increase participation. They restore hope, reduce tension, prevent violence and most importantly, build legitimacy.
Bad elections do the opposite. They breed apathy, produce leaders without mandate, and deepen instability, which may push Nigeria closer to collapse.
If the 10th National Assembly truly wants to answer the call of history, this is the moment. Give Nigerians a law that guarantees credible, free and fair elections. Remove the loopholes. Define the safeguards. Protect electronic transmission fully. Ensure civil society and technical experts participate meaningfully in the harmonisation process.
Nigeria cannot afford another compromised election cycle.
The Senate’s reversal shows that sustained pressure works. But the work is not complete.
We call on citizens, civil society organisations, media houses, political parties and technology experts to remain vigilant. Democracy is not defended once. It is defended continuously.
History will judge this committee.
Let it not be said that when the time came to secure Nigeria’s democracy, they chose ambiguity over clarity and politics over principle.
The choice is theirs.
But the consequences will be ours.
BY ALO360
