CNPP Urges NASS to Adopt Reps’ Electoral Act Amendment, Faults Senate on E-Transmission

 

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has called on the National Assembly’s bipartisan Conference Committee to adopt the House of Representatives’ version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026, describing it as pivotal for enhancing electoral transparency and credibility in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Friday by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, James Ezema, the CNPP said the House bill, which mandates electronic transmission of election results, offers a more credible framework for free, fair, and verifiable elections.

“The House bill clearly requires presiding officers to upload polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing Portal in real time immediately after collation, removing any discretion in result transmission,” the statement said.

The CNPP, however, criticised the Senate for retaining provisions from the Electoral Act 2022 that grant INEC discretionary powers over how results and accreditation data are transmitted. The group described the Senate’s position as “unacceptable and anti-democratic,” warning that it could undermine public confidence and threaten Nigeria’s democratic stability.

According to the CNPP, preserving discretionary provisions perpetuates vulnerabilities that have historically enabled electoral malpractice, especially during manual collation between polling units and collation centres. The group cited the 2023 general elections, noting that the absence of mandatory real-time electronic transmission fueled controversies, public distrust, and extensive post-election litigation.

The organisation also referenced the October 2023 Supreme Court ruling that upheld INEC’s discretionary powers under the Electoral Act 2022, warning that maintaining the same framework would expose future elections to similar legal disputes.

While acknowledging challenges such as poor network coverage in some areas, the CNPP insisted that flexibility should not replace accountability. It argued that discretionary electronic transmission weakens electoral justice by limiting reliance on electronic data failures as evidence in election petitions.

The group further warned that failure to mandate electronic transmission could deepen voter apathy and erode trust in the democratic process, stressing that credible elections rely on public confidence that votes are accurately recorded and transmitted.

Describing mandatory electronic transmission as a global democratic standard, the CNPP urged lawmakers not to treat it as negotiable in Nigeria’s electoral reform. The group called on the Conference Committee to adopt the House provisions, remove discretionary clauses, and introduce statutory penalties for non-compliance, except in clearly defined exceptional circumstances.

The CNPP reaffirmed its commitment to working with voters, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to promote transparency, accountability, and electoral justice, warning that history would judge the National Assembly by its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral integrity rather than political expediency.