Kingibe Clarifies Senate Stance on Electronic Result Transmission

Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has moved to quell rising public anxiety regarding the Senate’s recent deliberations on Nigeria’s electoral framework. In a clarifying statement issued on Thursday, February 5, 2026, the Labour Party lawmaker dismissed reports suggesting that the upper chamber had scrapped the electronic transmission of election results. According to Kingibe, the Senate merely opted to retain the existing language of the 2022 Electoral Act rather than adopting new, more rigid mandates for “real-time” uploads.

The confusion stems from a high-stakes legislative session on Wednesday, February 4, where lawmakers considered the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2026. While some observers interpreted the rejection of a “real-time mandatory” clause as a total reversal, Kingibe insisted that the foundational provision allowing for electronic transmission remains intact. She emphasized that the current framework was a hard-won victory developed through collaboration between the National Assembly, civil society, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Kingibe’s intervention highlights the nuanced legal distinction at the heart of the debate. By maintaining the 2022 provision, the Senate continues to empower INEC to determine the most effective “manner” of transmitting results and accreditation data. The senator noted that the decision to keep this language was backed by findings from several legislative retreats, which concluded that the existing framework remains the most viable option for Nigeria’s diverse technological landscape.

However, the Senate’s session was not without controversy. While the electronic transmission clause survived in its 2022 form, lawmakers rejected a more aggressive proposal that would have required presiding officers to transmit polling unit results to the IReV portal immediately after the signing of Form EC8A. Kingibe explained that while the intent was transparency, the Senate chose to stick with the “jointly agreed” language of the current law to avoid logistical complications.

Beyond the transmission debate, the legislative session saw the rejection of several other high-profile proposals. Most notable was the dismissal of a 10-year ban for individuals convicted of vote buying. Instead, the Senate opted to maintain the status quo for electoral offenders, though it did approve an increase in fines from ₦2 million to ₦5 million while keeping the two-year imprisonment term. For Kingibe, these decisions represent a commitment to the “rule of law” over potentially reactionary penalties.

The senator also addressed the significant changes made to administrative timelines. The Senate approved a reduction in the notice period for elections—from 360 days down to 180 days—and shortened the window for political parties to submit candidate lists from 180 days to 90 days. While critics fear these changes might squeeze smaller parties, Kingibe’s focus remained on the integrity of the vote itself, insisting that the “Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)” has now been officially codified into the bill, replacing the outdated “smart card reader” terminology.

Kingibe’s social media clarification was an attempt to reassure an increasingly skeptical electorate that the progress made in 2022 has not been undone. She characterized the reports of a reversal as a “misunderstanding of what was collectively passed.” For the FCT representative, the focus should remain on ensuring that the existing tools are used effectively rather than fearing a phantom removal of digital progress.

As the bill moves toward a harmonization committee with the House of Representatives, Kingibe’s voice serves as a bridge between the legislative chamber and a public wary of electoral backsliding. Her message is clear: the digital infrastructure for Nigerian elections is here to stay, even if the legislature is hesitant to mandate a “real-time” standard that some fear the current network cannot yet sustain nationwide.