By Obinna Uballa
Tension over Nigeria’s electoral framework escalated as the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room called for the immediate adoption of unconditional electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, warning that any weakening of the provision could erode public trust ahead of the 2027 general election.
At a protest outside the National Assembly in Abuja on Monday, the coalition criticised the Senate for introducing “conditional transmission” of results. Co-Convener Andrew Mamedu, also the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, demanded mandatory real-time electronic transmission from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal, saying, “Our future is in our hands. Electronic transmission must be mandatory and without conditions.”
The coalition also called for the retention of the 360-day election notice timeline, stressing its importance for planning, voter education, and logistics. Women’s advocacy groups joined the protest, urging the expedited passage of the special seats bill for women.
Protesters dismissed concerns about network coverage, citing previous off-cycle elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa, where high transmission rates were achieved. They argued that data could be securely stored and transmitted once connectivity is restored in areas with limited access.
Responding on behalf of the House of Representatives, spokesperson Akin Rotimi assured protesters that their concerns would be conveyed to leadership, pledging that constitutional amendments, including provisions for reserved seats for women, would undergo electronic voting.
Meanwhile, strong indications emerged that the Independent National Electoral Commission and the National Assembly have agreed to move the 2027 presidential election to January 16, 2027, from the previously scheduled February 20. Governorship elections are now projected for January 30, 2027, sources within INEC and the legislature confirmed, according to a report by Punch Newspaper.
The date change follows criticism that the original February timetable coincided with Ramadan, projected from February 7 to March 8, which could reduce voter participation among Muslims. A senior INEC official confirmed that consultations produced the new January dates, while a ranking senator noted the proposal is still under debate on the floor.
The National Assembly cut short its recess to hold an emergency plenary at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, with the election timetable as the primary agenda. This development forced the suspension of the harmonisation of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, originally scheduled for Monday, February 16. Committee members said the meeting would resume only after plenary, suggesting that lawmakers intend to finalise election dates before addressing other provisions, including e-transmission and dispute resolution timelines.
Debate over technology remains intense. Last week, the Senate approved electronic transmission to INEC’s portal but stopped short of making real-time uploads compulsory, retaining manual collation as a backup. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele cited infrastructural and power supply challenges, noting that nationwide electricity distribution delivers only 4,500 MW to households despite a generation capacity of 12,000–13,500 MW.
Observers say the January rescheduling could boost participation among Muslims and reduce low turnout risks in northern states. However, the compressed timeline may challenge INEC’s capacity and require parties to mobilise nationwide structures earlier than planned.
Lawmakers are also considering broader reforms, including conducting elections at least 185 days before incumbents’ tenures expire and shortening tribunal timelines to ensure results are concluded before the May 29, 2027 inauguration.
A Senate source described the emergency session as “crucial,” noting that the decisions taken will shape the credibility of the 2027 elections and ensure every Nigerian, regardless of faith, has a fair chance to participate.
