Civil society organisations have called on the National Assembly’s conference committee on the Electoral Bill to adopt the House of Representatives’ position on mandatory, real-time electronic transmission of election results, approval of downloadable voter cards for missing or unissued PVCs, and retention of existing electoral timelines critical to the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
They made this call during a world press conference of different Civil Society Organizations.
The Coordinator of the conference, Mr Jake Epelle of TAR Africa discussed the details and timeliness of the conference following the passage of the amended Electoral Act which stirred up reactions from concerned Nigerians about the outcome of the bill.
Mr Jake said, “This statement follows our earlier intervention of 5 February, in which we expressed deep concern over the Senate’s rejection of key reform provisions, including electronic transmission of results, downloadable voter cards, and the compression of statutory timelines. The Senate also removed the proposed ten-year ban on offences related to the buying and selling of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
“The conflicting positions of the Senate and the House of Representatives have created serious legal uncertainty, undermining electoral preparedness and public confidence. Electoral reform is not a technical exercise—it is fundamental to democratic integrity, transparency, and credible transitions.
Confusion over the Senate’s Position
Public discourse following the Senate vote has been marked by confusion and contradictory narratives regarding whether the Senate approved real-time electronic transmission, merely retained INEC’s discretionary powers under the Electoral Act 2022, or substituted the word “transmit” with “transfer” while removing the requirement for “real-time”. Such ambiguity in electoral legislation is unacceptable.
INEC Must Issue the 2027 Election Timetable
Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 mandates INEC to issue notice of election 360 days before the election date. The ongoing amendment process does not suspend the operation of the existing law. INEC’s failure to release the 2027 election timetable risks violating the Act and undermining early electoral preparations.
Applying INEC’s long-standing framework of holding general elections on the third Saturday of February, the 2027 elections are due on 20 February 2027, requiring notice by 24 February 2026.
“We therefore call on INEC to immediately issue the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
Senate Emergency Plenary
“We note the Senate’s emergency plenary scheduled for Tuesday, 10 February 2026. We urge the Senate to use this opportunity to clearly and unambiguously adopt provisions that guarantee:
1. Mandatory, real-time electronic transmission and collation of results;
2. Downloadable voter cards for missing and unissued PVCs; and
Retention of statutory timelines for notice of elections and candidate nominations.
Key Recommendations to the Conference Committee
Electronic Transmission of Results
The conference committee should adopt the House of Representatives’ provision mandating real-time electronic transmission of results using a technology-neutral framework, ensuring transparency while allowing INEC flexibility in implementation.
Downloadable Voter Cards and Timelines
INEC data from the 2023 elections show that over 6.2 million registered voters were disenfranchised due to uncollected PVCs. Downloadable voter cards will significantly reduce voter exclusion. Existing timelines—360 days for notice of elections, 180 days for submission of candidates, and 150 days for publication—must be retained to avoid logistical failures.
Review of Election Results
Limiting the review of election results solely to reports filed by INEC officials undermines accountability. We call for the expansion of eligible reporters to include political parties, candidates, accredited agents, and observers.
Conclusion
We call on the National Assembly to conclude the harmonisation of the Electoral Bill without delay and transmit the final bill to the President within two weeks. We also urge citizens to demand accountability from their representatives and resist any attempt to weaken electoral safeguards ahead of the 2027 elections.
Signed:
Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO)
The Kukah Centre
International Press Centre (IPC)
Elect Her
Nigerian Women Trust Fund
TAF Africa
Yiaga Africa
