![Hon. Festus Keyamo SAN arrives MMIA past 11:50 p.m. Feb 23 to lead oversight of Terminal 1 fire. Joined FAAN MD & team actively managing situation. Directed morning inspection Tuesday to guide restoration & confirm safety standards. Reaffirmed focus on passenger safety. Story: [link] #KeyamoMMIA #FireIncident #FAAN](https://fullcliphq.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/mym-150x150.jpg "MMIA Fire: Keyamo Inspects Lagos Airport After Terminal 1 Blaze Disrupts Flights")
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has strongly defended the Senate’s recent amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Bill 2026, insisting that the chamber approved the electronic transmission of election results in real time – contrary to some media reports suggesting otherwise.
Speaking at a media briefing at the National Assembly on Thursday, accompanied by 13 serving senators, Abaribe said his integrity and that of his colleagues were at stake over the issue.
“I am concerned about reports in the media, and that is why we decided to make this clarification. What we passed is electronic transmission of results. I need to make this very clear,” Abaribe stated. He emphasized that the Senate deliberately chose the term “transmission” to avoid ambiguity, distinguishing it from the more vague “transfer” language used in the existing 2022 Act.
Key Legislative Changes and Clarifications
The controversy arose during the clause-by-clause consideration on February 4, when different interpretations of Clause 60 emerged. While many observers initially feared a rejection of mandatory uploads, Abaribe’s group insists the new wording effectively mandates real-time electronic transmission to the IReV portal.
| Provision | Status in 2026 Amendment | Notable Detail |
| Electronic Transmission | Approved (per Abaribe & co.) | Aimed at real-time polling unit uploads to IReV. |
| BVAS Integration | Standardized | Formally replaces “smart card readers” in the law. |
| Notice of Election | Reduced to 180 days | Formerly 360 days; intended to streamline the cycle. |
| Vote-Buying Fine | Increased to ₦5 Million | Retained 2-year prison term but hiked the financial penalty. |
| Candidate Submission | Reduced to 90 days | Formerly 180 days before the general election. |
The Procedural Hurdle: Votes and Proceedings
Abaribe explained that the process is not yet final. The Senate has not yet adopted the Votes and Proceedings from the February 4 session – a necessary step before a conference committee can harmonize the Senate and House versions of the bill.
“There is still one more step left for the Senate to take. Until the Votes and Proceedings are adopted, the conference committee cannot take place. A huge number of senators across party lines are with us,” Abaribe added.
Senator Aliyu Ningi, who was also present, described the rigor of the process, involving approximately 27 committee sessions. He expressed disappointment that public opinion was being “pushed in a negative direction” despite the extensive work done to ensure transparency.
The “Transfer” vs. “Transmission” Debate
The friction began when Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno and Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau advocated for retaining the word “transfer” from the 2022 Act. Critics and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) initially interpreted Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s affirmation of this stance as a rejection of mandatory real-time electronic results. However, Abaribe’s clarification suggests a legislative intent to make the electronic process more definitive than the previous discretionary framework.
Public and CSO Reaction
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), including the Situation Room, have been vocal about the delays, staging rallies at the National Assembly just days prior to the passage. They argue that any ambiguity in the law regarding electronic transmission could undermine public confidence in the 2027 general elections.
