Senator Orji Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, has declared his support for the Senate’s approval of electronic transmission of election results, saying the measure will promote transparency, fairness, and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process.
In a statement shared via his official Facebook page, Kalu said, “Today at emergency plenary, I supported and added my voice to the Senate’s new position approving the electronic transmission of election results from polling units across Nigeria.”
He explained that, with the adoption of the amended Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act, presiding officers can transmit results electronically “after Form EC8A has been duly completed and signed.”
He added, “This means electronic transmission becomes the primary method where the technology is available and functional.
“However, where it fails or becomes impossible, the duly signed Form EC8A remains the valid and primary source of results.”
Kalu further emphasised the importance of inclusivity for voters in areas with network challenges, saying, “This balanced approach strengthens transparency, fairness, and credibility in our electoral process, while ensuring that voters in network-challenged communities are not disenfranchised.
“Our democracy must work for every Nigerian, everywhere.”
The decision by the Senate followed a reconsideration of a disputed clause in the Electoral Act
The upper chamber approved electronic transmission to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal, while allowing manual collation as a backup where technology fails.
The chamber also stopped short of making electronic transmission compulsory and rejected the provision for real-time upload of results.