A civil society organisation, the National Democracy Movement (NDM), has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of undermining Nigeria’s democratic foundations following the Senate’s decision to reject mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.
In a strongly worded letter dated January 9, 2026, and addressed to Akpabio, the group said it was “alarmed” by the Senate’s refusal to harmonise its position with that of the House of Representatives, which supports compulsory electronic transmission of results from polling units.
The letter, signed by the group’s coordinator, described the Senate’s stance as a “dangerous refusal to protect democracy,” arguing that Nigerians have consistently demanded electoral reforms capable of strengthening transparency and preventing manipulation of election outcomes.
Referencing the 2023 general elections, the National Democracy Movement said the credibility crisis that followed the presidential poll was largely linked to the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results electronically to its IReV portal.
It noted that court rulings at the time held that electronic transmission was optional because it was not expressly mandated by law.
“This interpretation effectively justified INEC’s failure to transmit results and exposed serious gaps in the electoral framework,” the group stated, adding that the controversy sparked nationwide calls for the inclusion of mandatory electronic transmission in the Electoral Act.
The organisation said the proposed reform enjoys widespread support across political parties and has been endorsed by INEC, as well as religious and traditional leaders.
According to the group, making electronic transmission compulsory would help prevent post-election disputes capable of destabilising the country, citing recent coups in parts of West Africa linked to contested polls.
The group also raised concerns over reports that the Senate initially approved provisions for electronic transmission before they were later removed, accusing the Senate President of overstepping his authority if the changes were made unilaterally.
“It is shocking and shameful that the will of the Senate and the voice of Nigerians could be overridden in this manner,” the letter read, describing Akpabio’s alleged conduct as “dishonourable.”
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Beyond the electoral issue, the group claimed the National Assembly was increasingly being viewed as a “rubber-stamp” legislature and accused the current administration of weak governance since 2023.
It warned that failure to enshrine real-time electronic transmission ahead of the 2027 general elections could trigger a major political crisis and endanger Nigeria’s democracy.
The National Democracy Movement said it was submitting the letter as a petition representing “millions of Nigerians” and urged Akpabio to restore the provision when the Senate resumes.
It also vowed to mobilise citizens to defend electoral integrity and called on the international community to pay attention to what it described as deliberate efforts to weaken democracy in Nigeria.