Senate passes bill mandating electronic transmission of election results for second reading

The Senate has passed the Electoral Bill 2025 for second reading, setting the stage for major reforms in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the passage during Wednesday’s plenary after a majority of senators supported it through a voice vote.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), seeks to replace the Electoral Act 2022 to strengthen INEC’s independence, improve result transmission, and enhance election transparency.

During the debate, Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi North) called for the inclusion of clear provisions on the electronic transmission of results.

He urged his colleagues to strengthen the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to ensure transparency in elections.

Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North) encouraged all lawmakers, including those in the opposition, to work together towards building a transparent electoral process.

Tahir Munguno (APC, Borno North) advocated for transparent party primaries, reduced election spending, and stronger measures against vote-buying.

Agom Jarigbe (PDP, Cross River North) supported provisions for electronic result transmission and independent candidacy, while Olalere Oyewunmi (PDP, Osun West) called for stiffer penalties for electoral offenders, including INEC and security officials who compromise elections