The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has expressed deep concern over the controversy surrounding the Senate’s position on the real-time transmission of election results in the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act.
In a statement issued on Monday and jointly signed by its President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the Guild said the development was already creating doubt and mistrust among Nigerians about the integrity of the electoral process.
The Guild noted that the Senate’s adoption of provisions in the proposed 2022 Electoral Act — which allow for the transmission of election results without making it mandatory and immediate — runs contrary to the position of many Nigerians and lawmakers, and has sparked public outrage that could discourage voter participation.
“At a time when Nigerians are calling for mandatory and immediate transmission of election results from polling units to central collation centres, and as countries around the world adopt electronic transmission to enhance transparency, the Senate’s position leaves much to be desired,” the statement read, describing it as a missed opportunity to strengthen accountability in the electoral process.
The NGE added that the rejection of mandatory electronic transmission undermines efforts to deepen democratic governance and ensure credible elections, stressing that globally, such measures have become standard practice for improving electoral credibility and efficiency.
As the Senate reconvenes on February 10, 2026, to harmonise its position with that of the House of Representatives, the Guild urged the National Assembly to uphold the highest standards of electoral integrity by approving mandatory and immediate transmission of results from polling units to the INEC central server and collation centres.
It maintained that digitalising elections through real-time transmission would enhance transparency, efficiency, accuracy and voter confidence, while reducing disputes, controversies and electoral fraud.
The Guild emphasised that Nigerians are closely watching the National Assembly and warned that anything short of mandatory and immediate transmission would fall below contemporary electoral standards, insisting that such a move is critical to ensuring free, fair and credible elections where every vote truly counts.
