Olushola Omogbehin
The Senate has succumbed to public cry and reversed its earlier decision by approving the electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal, IReV, but did not make real-time upload compulsory.
This was a follow up to its earlier rejection of a proposal seeking to compel real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,’s Result Viewing Portal, IReV which generated strong criticism among Nigerians.
After prolonged debate on Tuesday, the Senate adopted a revised Clause 60(3) which mandates electronic transmission of results after the signing and stamping of Form EC8A (result sheet) at polling units.
It also provides that where electronic transmission fails due to network challenges, the manually signed EC8A shall remain the primary basis for collation and declaration of results.
According to the revised Clause 60(3):
“Results shall be transmitted electronically from each polling unit to the IReV after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the presiding officer and party agents who are available at the polling unit.
“Provided that where the electronic transmission of results fails as a result of communication failure, the result contained in Form EC8A, signed by the presiding officer and/or countersigned by polling agents shall, in such a case, be the primary source for collation and declaration of results.”
