Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP)in the 2023 election, has led a group of protesters to the National AssemblyComplex in Abuja over the senate’s rejection of real-time electronictransmission of election results. Among the protesters are student and civil society groups,some members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the ObidientMovement — a group of Obi’s supporters. “Allow the elections to go through the normal process.Whoever wins, we would accept,” Obi said as the demonstrators chantedsolidarity slogans and songs. “So, why are you bringing this confusion?” BACKGROUND On February 4, the senate passed the Electoral Act amendmentbill after a five-hour clause-by-clause deliberation. One of the amendments reduced the timeline for theIndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish a notice ofelection from 360 days to 180 days. The senate also ruled out real-time transmission of electionresults and retained the provision for electronic transfer of results asprovided for in the 2002 Electoral Act. The resolution immediately sparked outrage across socialmedia platforms. At the centre of the controversy is clause 60(3) of theamendment bill. The proposed amendment reads: “The presiding officer shallelectronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IREV portalin real time, and such transmission shall be done after the prescribed FormEC8A has been signed and stamped by the presiding officer and/or countersignedby the candidates or polling unit agents, where available at the polling unit.” It clearly stated that this must occur after Form EC8A hasbeen signed and stamped. Form EC8A is used to record political party votes atthe polling units. This amendment intends to make electronic transmissioncompulsory, ensure it is in real-time, and link same directly to IReV. In otherwords, it would have transformed electronic transmission from a discretionaryexercise into a legal duty. But the senate rejected this proposal. Instead, it adoptedsection 60(5) of the existing Electoral Act 2022, which says: “The presidingofficer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accreditedvoters and the results of the ballot, in a manner as prescribed by theCommission”.
Don't miss out on breaking stories and in-depth articles.
