The Nigerian Senate has explained why the words “real time” were removed from the 2026 Electoral Bill.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said lawmakers had to consider Nigeria’s current network and electricity challenges before making their decision.
According to him, the original Clause 60(3) of the bill required that election results must be sent electronically from each polling unit to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time.
However, the Senate later reviewed the clause. They decided to keep electronic transmission of results but removed the “real-time” condition.
Bamidele said Nigeria’s internet and broadband coverage are still limited.
He quoted data from the Nigerian Communications Commission, which shows:
Broadband coverage was about 70% in 2025
Internet penetration stood at 44.53%
He also referred to the Speedtest Global Index, which ranked Nigeria:
85th out of 105 countries in mobile network reliability
129th out of 150 countries in fixed broadband reliability
According to him, Nigeria’s internet speed is still far below many countries.
The senator also said electricity remains a major problem. About 85 million Nigerians do not have access to stable power.
He explained that although Nigeria can generate between 12,000 and 13,500 megawatts of electricity, only about 4,500 megawatts can be distributed across the country.
Bamidele warned that forcing real-time transmission under current conditions could create serious problems during elections.
He said lawmakers must make decisions based on facts, not emotions.
According to him, removing “real time” does not cancel electronic transmission. It only ensures that the law matches Nigeria’s present infrastructure while still promoting transparency in elections.
Post a Comment