The Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum, SMBLF, has cautioned the National Assembly against removing the provision for compulsory real-time electronic transmission of election results from the 2026 Electoral Amendment Bill, warning that such a move would weaken Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement issued on Monday, February 9, and signed by its leaders, the forum said Clause 60 of the bill, as passed by the House of Representatives and harmonised by the Joint Conference Committee of the National Assembly, must be preserved without alteration.
The statement was jointly signed by the Leader of the SMBLF and Afenifere leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan; President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu; President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata; and National Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador Godknows Igali.
According to the forum, free, fair, and transparent elections remain the cornerstone of democratic governance, warning that any attempt to dilute electoral safeguards amounted to an assault on the sovereignty of Nigerians.
The group anchored its position on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal, IReV, which it said was created to enable citizens to view polling unit results in real time and curb manipulation.
“When properly backed by law, IReV removes secrecy, manipulation and post-election confusion,” the statement read, adding that mandatory electronic transmission would help rebuild public trust in elections.
The SMBLF expressed concern over reports that the Senate altered the final version of the bill by deleting the clause mandating real-time transmission.
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It noted that several senators had publicly stated, both during executive sessions and plenary, that they voted in favour of compulsory electronic transmission.
Citing the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the forum quoted him as saying, “What later surfaced was not what the Senate approved.”
Describing the situation as “unacceptable in a democratic legislature,” the forum warned that Nigerians would resist any attempt to impose an altered law.
The group recalled the 2023 presidential election petition, noting that the Supreme Court relied on Section 60(5) of the 2022 Electoral Act, which made electronic transmission optional, thereby exposing a loophole.
“The law must be clear, firm and mandatory,” the statement stressed.
The forum dismissed concerns about poor network coverage, noting that INEC had explained that BVAS devices could store results offline and upload them once connectivity was restored.
“This was proven during the 2023 general elections, until the system was deliberately sabotaged during the presidential poll, as most Nigerians believe,” the SMBLF said.
Linking flawed elections to insecurity, the forum cited recent killings in Kaiama, Kwara State, arguing that credible elections would compel leaders to govern responsibly and respect the will of the people.