A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has sharply criticised the Nigerian Senate’s recent amendment to the Electoral Act, describing the inclusion of a provision allowing manual transmission of election results in cases of technical glitches as “pure deceit and fraud.”
Speaking amid growing public outrage, Okonkwo accused the upper chamber of deliberately creating a pathway for potential electoral manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a widely circulated video clip from comments made at the National Assembly premises and shared across social media platforms, the lawyer and former actor stated:”What I saw in the Senate today was deceit and fraud.
They said if INEC has a technical glitch, results can be transmitted manually, that’s exactly what happened in 2023.
“His remarks reference the controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election, where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cited network and technical failures that prevented real-time uploading of polling unit results to its IReV portal.
Critics, including opposition parties and civil society groups, alleged that these failures facilitated irregularities and undermined transparency.
The Senate, on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, reconsidered and passed an amendment to Section 60 of the Electoral Act during an emergency plenary session.
The revised clause mandates presiding officers at polling units to electronically transmit results to the IReV portal after completing, signing, and stamping Form EC8A.
However, it includes a significant proviso: in situations where electronic transmission is impossible due to network failures, communication disruptions, or other technical issues, the manually completed Form EC8A becomes the primary basis for collation and declaration of results.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and supporters of the amendment described the change as a pragmatic safeguard, arguing that absolute reliance on electronic systems could disenfranchise voters in areas with poor connectivity.
The decision followed intense public pressure, media scrutiny, and earlier backlash when the chamber initially appeared to reject mandatory electronic transmission.
Opponents, however, view the fallback clause as a deliberate weakening of reforms introduced in the 2022 Electoral Act, which had promised greater transparency through technology.
Okonkwo and many online commentators argue that the provision effectively renders electronic transmission optional, opening the door for intentional “glitches” to justify reverting to manual processes prone to alteration during collation.
Social media reactions have been swift and largely critical, with users warning that the loophole revives memories of past electoral malpractices and erodes public confidence in the democratic process.
Hashtags such as #MandatoryIReV, #NoToFraud, and #ElectoralReformNow trended as Nigerians expressed fears that the amendment could set the stage for disputed outcomes in 2027.
Okonkwo’s statement aligns with broader calls from civil society organizations and opposition figures demanding that electronic transmission be made strictly mandatory, with robust backup systems that do not compromise transparency.
Some have even renewed demands for accountability regarding the 2023 election controversies.
As the amended bill now heads toward final stages before potential assent, the debate underscores deep divisions over how best to balance technological advancement with practical realities in Nigeria’s electoral framework.
Whether the provision survives further scrutiny or triggers additional protests remains to be seen, but Okonkwo’s blunt assessment has amplified voices insisting that any reform must close — rather than reopen — avenues for manipulation.
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