By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stark warning of potential nationwide protests and a boycott of future elections, citing what it calls “confusion and contradictory positions” by the Senate regarding crucial amendments to the Electoral Act.

The labour union accused the Senate of undermining public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process by failing to clearly state whether electronic transmission of results would be mandatory.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) 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,” NLC President Joe Ajaero said in a statement on Sunday.

According to the NLC, the lack of clarity surrounding the Senate’s decision threatens electoral integrity and public trust, stressing that “Nigerians deserve a transparent system where votes are not only counted but seen to be counted.”

“Public records suggest the proposed amendment to mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results electronically in real time was not adopted, with the existing discretionary provision retained.

“This has generated nationwide apprehension, and subsequent explanations have only added to the confusion,” the union added.

It warned that “legislative ambiguity” at a critical period following the 2023 general elections could institutionalise doubt within the electoral system.

The labour body demanded that the Senate issue an “immediate, official, and unambiguous account” of the exact provisions passed, including the final wording and the rationale behind its decision.

“The National Assembly leadership must also ensure the harmonisation process produces a final bill with crystal-clear provisions; any ambiguity in the transmission and collation of results is a disservice to our democracy,” the statement read.

The NLC insisted that the amended Electoral Act must provide a clear mandate compelling INEC to electronically transmit and collate results from polling units in real time, warning that failure to do so could trigger mass action.

“Failure to add electronic transmission in real time will lead to mass action before, during and after the election, or total boycott of the election,” the Congress said.

“Nigerian workers and citizens are watching closely. Our nation must choose the path of clarity and integrity. We need to avoid the same confusion that trailed the new Tax Acts. The time for honest, people-focused legislation is now.”

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.

In passing the bill, the upper chamber voted down Clause 60(3), which would have required presiding officers to electronically transmit results from polling units directly to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing portal in real time.

The rejected clause aimed to make the process mandatory.

The lawmaker replaced it with the current discretionary “transfer” of results, which allows electronic transmission only after votes are counted and publicly announced at polling units.

Civil society groups and opposition figures have condemned the Senate’s decision, labelling it a setback for Nigeria’s democratic progress.

Senate President Akpabio has, however, defended the chamber’s actions, insisting during a public event that the Senate did not reject electronic transmission and vowing not to be intimidated.

Meanwhile, the Senate has fixed Tuesday, February 10, 2026, for an emergency plenary sitting.

The sitting could see the Senate reconsider the rejected amendment amid public outcry and potential legal challenges from figures such as lawyer Femi Falana, with possible implications for Nigeria’s democratic processes and the balance between incumbency protections and verifiable voting technology.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the National Assembly to pass a proposed amendment to the Electoral Act that would explicitly compel the electronic transmission of election results from polling units.

In a statement issued on Saturday via X (formerly Twitter), the NBA’s National Executive Council (NEC) endorsed a report by its President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), urging legislators to approve changes to Clause 60, Subsection 3. The NEC, which met in Maiduguri, Borno State, on February 5, 2026, stated the report “highlighted the urgent need to mandate the electronic transmission of results to strengthen transparency and public confidence in elections.”

The proposed amendment would legally require presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results in real time to the INEC Result Viewing portal “immediately after Form EC8A has been duly signed, stamped, and countersigned by party agents.”

The NEC criticised the Senate’s decision to retain the current wording, which permits results to be transferred “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.” It argued this phrasing weakens “the legal foundation for transparent elections and [leaves] room for manipulation and ambiguity.” Such discretionary language, it warned, “undermines democratic accountability,” adding that “clear statutory compulsion… is essential to guaranteeing electoral transparency, protecting the integrity of votes cast, and restoring public confidence.”

The NBA described credible elections as “the bedrock of constitutional democracy” and urged lawmakers to demonstrate “legislative responsibility and statesmanship” by approving the amendment.

In response, the Senate has dismissed claims that it removed the electronic transmission requirement. Senate President Godswill Akpabio described such reports as misleading, clarifying that the 2022 Electoral Act still mandates presiding officers to transmit results electronically.

“This is misleading. Electronic transmission has not been removed from the law. The provision under the 2022 Electoral Act remains in force, and presiding officers are still required to transmit results electronically as prescribed,” Akpabio stated. He added that retaining the current provision ensures “legal and operational clarity” within a secure, standardized process.

The Senate Minority Caucus echoed this stance, emphasizing that lawmakers did not reject electronic transmission and that the Upper Chamber’s actions aim to safeguard electoral transparency and credibility.

The NBA has reaffirmed its “commitment to sustained engagement and advocacy” to ensure Nigeria’s electoral laws clearly reflect the will of the people.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Buckingham Palace has announced that His Excellency President Bola Tinubu of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will undertake a State Visit to the United Kingdom on Tuesday, 18 March.

The two-day visit, which will include his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is being hosted at the invitation of His Majesty King Charles III. It marks the first State Visit by a Nigerian leader to the UK in 37 years, with the most recent being that of President Ibrahim Babangida in 1989.

This visit builds upon a series of high-level engagements between the two leaders, who both assumed office in May 2023. Their discussions have consistently focused on strengthening the historic partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Previous meetings include an introductory encounter ahead of COP28 in November 2023 and a private audience at Buckingham Palace in September 2024, where global and regional priorities, particularly the challenge of climate change, were central topics.

The forthcoming visit underscores the enduring diplomatic ties between the two nations. Previous Nigerian State Visits to the UK were made by President Yakubu Gowon (1973) and President Shehu Shagari (1981). King Charles, during his tenure as The Prince of Wales, has visited Nigeria on four occasions: in 1990, 1999, 2006, and 2018.