JUST IN: NLC THREATENS NATIONWIDE PROTESTS OVER ELECTORAL ACT

 NLC THREATENS NATIONWIDE PROTESTS OVER ELECTORAL ACT AMENDMENT DISPUTE

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned of possible nationwide protests and election boycotts following what it described as confusion and conflicting positions by the Senate over recent amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly on the electronic transmission of election results.

The warning was issued in a statement on Sunday by the President of the NLC, Mr Joe Ajaero, who expressed concern that the lack of clarity surrounding the amendment could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

According to the labour union, contradictory explanations from the Senate regarding whether electronic transmission of results would be mandatory or discretionary have generated widespread apprehension among Nigerians.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress expresses deep concern over the confusion and contradictory narratives emerging from the Senate regarding the amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act, particularly on electronic transmission of results,” Ajaero said.

The NLC stressed that electoral transparency depends not only on votes being counted but also on the credibility and visibility of the process, warning that legislative ambiguity at a critical period could institutionalise doubt within the democratic system.

The union noted that public records indicate the Senate did not adopt the proposed amendment that would have compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit election results electronically in real time from polling units. Instead, the existing provision granting discretionary powers for electronic transfer of results was retained.

According to the NLC, subsequent explanations by lawmakers have failed to resolve the uncertainty, further eroding public trust in the electoral framework.

The Congress demanded that the Senate issue an immediate and unambiguous clarification of the exact provisions passed, including the final wording of the amendment and the rationale behind rejecting mandatory real-time electronic transmission.

“The leadership of the National Assembly must ensure that the harmonisation process produces a final bill with clear and unambiguous provisions. Any uncertainty surrounding result transmission and collation is a disservice to Nigeria’s democracy,” the statement read.

The labour body insisted that the amended Electoral Act must clearly mandate INEC to electronically transmit and collate results in real time, warning that failure to do so could trigger mass action, including protests before, during and after elections, or a possible boycott.

The warning follows the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 through its third reading on February 4, 2026.

During the consideration of the bill, the Senate voted down Clause 60(3), which sought to mandate presiding officers to electronically transmit results directly from polling units to INEC’s Result Viewing portal in real time. The clause was replaced with a provision allowing electronic transmission only after votes have been counted and publicly announced at polling units.

The decision has drawn criticism from civil society organisations and opposition figures, who have described it as a setback to electoral transparency and democratic accountability.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has, however, defended the Senate’s position, insisting that the chamber did not reject electronic transmission of results and stating that lawmakers would not be pressured into reversing their decision.

Meanwhile, the Senate has scheduled an emergency plenary sitting for Tuesday, February 10, 2026, amid growing public outcry and indications that the rejected amendment may be reconsidered.

Legal challenges are also being contemplated by some stakeholders, with potential implications for Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of future elections.