The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened potential nationwide protests and election boycotts over what it described as confusion and contradictory positions by the Senate on amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly regarding electronic transmission of election results.
The NLC accused the Senate of undermining public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process by failing to clearly state whether electronic transmission of results would be mandatory.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expresses deep concern over the confusion and contradictory narratives emerging from the Senate regarding the amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act, particularly on electronic transmission of results,” NLC President Joe Ajaero said in a statement on Sunday.
According to the NLC, the lack of transparency surrounding the Senate’s decision endangers election integrity and public trust, emphasizing that “Nigerians deserve a transparent system where votes are not only counted but seen to be counted.”
“Public records suggest the proposed amendment to mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results electronically in real time was not adopted, with the existing discretionary provision retained.
“This has generated nationwide apprehension, and subsequent explanations have only added to the confusion,” the union added.
It cautioned that “legislative ambiguity” during a key period following the 2023 general elections could institutionalize skepticism in the electoral system.
The labor organization urged that the Senate provide an “immediate, official, and unambiguous account” of the specific clauses passed, including the final wording and reasoning behind its decision.
“The National Assembly leadership must also ensure the harmonization process produces a final bill with crystal-clear provisions; any ambiguity in the transmission and collation of results is a disservice to our democracy,” the statement read.
The labor union insisted that the amended Electoral Act must provide a clear mandate compelling INEC to electronically transmit and collate results from polling units in real time, warning that failure to do so could trigger mass action.
“Failure to add electronic transmission in real time will lead to mass action before, during, and after the election, or a total boycott of the election,” the Congress said.
“Nigerian workers and citizens are watching closely. Our nation must choose the path of clarity and integrity. We need to avoid the same confusion that trailed the new tax acts. The time for honest, people-focused legislation is now.”
The warning comes after the Senate passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 in its third reading on February 4, 2026.
In passing the law, the upper chamber voted against Clause 60(3), which would have required presiding officers to electronically send results from polling stations immediately to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing portal in real time.
The rejected clause sought to make the process mandatory.
The congressman replaced it with the present discretionary “transfer” of results, which permits electronic transmission only after votes have been counted and publicly stated at polling stations.
Civil society organizations and opposition politicians have criticized the Senate’s decision, calling it a setback for Nigeria’s democratic progress.
Senate President Akpabio has, however, defended the chamber’s conduct, stressing at a public gathering that the Senate did not refuse electronic transmission and pledging not to be intimidated.
Meanwhile, the Senate has scheduled an emergency plenary session on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
The Senate may review the failed amendment in light of public protest and probable legal challenges from people such as lawyer Femi Falana, with consequences for Nigeria’s democratic processes and the balance between incumbency protections and verifiable voting technology.
