Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has declared her support for the retention of real-time electronic transmission of election results, saying Nigerians deserve an electoral process that is transparent and truly reflects the will of the people.
The senator made her position public in a Facebook post on Tuesday, ahead of a crucial Senate session expected to revisit controversial amendments to the Electoral Act.
Her endorsement marks a significant shift as the Senate faces growing pressure to reverse its decision to remove the phrase “real-time” from provisions on electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026.
In her post, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she entered the Senate chamber carrying the hopes of Nigerians who seek stronger democratic safeguards in the country’s laws.
She described real-time electronic transmission of results as vital to enhancing transparency, protecting the integrity of the people’s mandate, and rebuilding public confidence in the electoral process. According to her, Nigeria’s democracy must evolve through systems that ensure every vote counts and every voice is accurately represented.
The controversy surrounding the removal of “real-time” from the bill has sparked widespread public backlash, with civil society organisations, opposition leaders, professional groups, and youth bodies warning that the change could weaken electoral safeguards.
Her intervention came in the wake of mass protests at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, where demonstrators—under the banner Occupy the National Assembly—condemned the Senate’s earlier decision. The protesters accused lawmakers of attempting to roll back electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Last week, the Senate passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, after a third reading. Central to the controversy is the deletion of the term “real-time” from clauses governing electronic transmission of results, which critics argue could open the door to result manipulation and post-election interference.
Although the Senate has repeatedly clarified that it did not ban electronic transmission of results, election observers and protesters insist that the absence of the explicit phrase “real-time electronic transmission” creates loopholes and undermines public trust.
The Senate is expected to further deliberate on the matter amid sustained public scrutiny and mounting calls for a reversal.
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