A civil society organisation, the Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) Consortium, has urged the National Assembly Electoral Act Amendment Bill Conference Committee to adopt mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results.

The group, in a statement on Saturday, said it welcomed the Senate’s decision to revisit Clause 60(3) and approve electronic transmission after initially rejecting the provision.

The statement was signed by Bukola Idowu, executive director of Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI); Zigwai Ayuba of J-DEV Foundation; and Abimbola Salako, head of the New Generation Girls, among others.

The consortium described the Senate’s action as responsive to public concerns but said the measure did not sufficiently guarantee transparency in the electoral process.

It noted that although electronic transmission was approved, it was not made mandatory in real time as in the House of Representatives’ version.

The group said many Nigerians, particularly youths, had consistently demanded compulsory real-time transmission to reduce human interference during the collation of results.

It expressed concern about provisions that permit manual transmission when technology fails, warning that such measures could weaken safeguards in the results management process.

The consortium said improvements in connectivity and the capabilities of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System support the feasibility of real-time transmission, including in areas with temporary network challenges.

It urged members of the harmonisation committee to prioritise national interest and adopt provisions that strengthen transparency and credibility in elections.

The group added that the timely passage of an enhanced Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 general elections would support credible polls and public confidence in democratic governance.

It reaffirmed the commitment to continued engagement with lawmakers and stakeholders to advance reforms that promote transparency, credibility, and inclusive democracy.

(NAN)