The Nigeria Labour Congress has warned that it may mobilise nationwide protests or boycott future elections over what it described as conflicting signals from the Senate on the amendment of the Electoral Act, particularly on the electronic transmission of election results.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the labour centre was alarmed by what it termed the Senate’s failure to clearly state whether electronic transmission of results would be compulsory, warning that the uncertainty could erode public confidence in the electoral process.
The Congress said Nigerians deserved an electoral system that was transparent and credible, stressing that votes must not only be counted but must be seen to be counted.
According to the NLC, available records indicate that a proposal seeking to mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission to transmit results electronically in real time was rejected, with lawmakers retaining a provision that leaves the process to the discretion of the commission.
It noted that the development had generated widespread concern across the country, adding that explanations offered so far by the Senate had only deepened public confusion.
The labour body warned that such “legislative ambiguity,” coming shortly after the 2023 general elections, could institutionalise doubt within the electoral system and weaken democratic accountability.
The NLC called on the Senate to issue an immediate and unequivocal clarification of the exact provisions passed, including the final wording of the amendment and the justification for the decision taken.
It also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that the ongoing harmonisation process produces a final law with clear and unambiguous provisions, arguing that any uncertainty around the transmission and collation of results undermines democracy.
The Congress insisted that the amended Electoral Act must expressly compel INEC to transmit and collate results electronically from polling units in real time, warning that failure to do so could provoke mass action.
It said Nigerian workers and citizens were closely monitoring developments and cautioned against a repeat of controversies that followed recent tax legislation, urging lawmakers to prioritise clarity and public interest in lawmaking.
The warning followed the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, after its third reading on February 4.
During consideration of the bill, the upper chamber voted against a clause that sought to make it mandatory for presiding officers to electronically transmit polling unit results directly to INEC’s result viewing portal in real time.
Instead, the Senate retained an existing provision that allows electronic transfer of results only after votes have been counted and announced at polling units.
The decision has drawn criticism from civil society organisations and opposition figures, who described it as a setback for electoral reforms and democratic consolidation.
However, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has defended the chamber’s action, maintaining that lawmakers did not oppose electronic transmission of results and insisting that the Senate would not succumb to intimidation.
Meanwhile, the Senate has scheduled an emergency plenary for Tuesday, FebruarThe s 2026, amid growing public pressure.
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The sitting is expected to consider calls for a review of the rejected clause, as legal challenges loom from some stakeholders, raising fresh questions about the future of Nigeria’s electoral framework and the credibility of its democratic process.
