The Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum (SMBLF) has called on the National Assembly to retain the provision for compulsory real-time electronic transmission of election results in the 2026 Electoral Amendment Bill, warning that any attempt to dilute the clause would weaken Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its leaders, the forum said Clause 60 of the bill – passed by the House of Representatives and harmonised by the National Assembly’s Joint Conference Committee – must remain unchanged.
The statement was endorsed by the SMBLF Leader and Afenifere leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan; President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu; President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata; and National Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador Godknows Igali.
According to the group, credible, free and transparent elections are the foundation of democratic governance, and any weakening of electoral safeguards amounts to an assault on the sovereignty of Nigerians.
The forum anchored its demand on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV), which it said was created to enable citizens to view polling unit results in real time and eliminate opportunities for manipulation.
“When properly backed by law, IReV removes secrecy, manipulation and post-election confusion,” the statement read, noting that mandatory electronic transmission would help rebuild public confidence in the electoral process.
However, the SMBLF expressed concern over reports that the Senate may have altered the final version of the bill by removing the clause mandating real-time transmission of results.
It noted that several senators had publicly stated—both during executive sessions and plenary—that they voted in favour of compulsory electronic transmission, only for a different version of the bill to later surface.
Citing Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the forum quoted him as saying, “What later surfaced was not what the Senate approved.”
Describing the situation as “unacceptable in a democratic legislature,” the SMBLF warned that Nigerians would resist any attempt to impose an altered law.
The group also recalled the Supreme Court’s position during the 2023 presidential election petition, where the court relied on Section 60(5) of the 2022 Electoral Act, which made electronic transmission optional at INEC’s discretion. It said the judgment exposed a loophole that must be addressed through clear legislative action.
“The law must be clear, firm and mandatory,” the statement emphasised.
The forum dismissed arguments that inadequate telecom coverage could frustrate real-time transmission, noting that INEC had previously explained that the BVAS device could store results offline and upload them once network connectivity was restored.
According to the group, this process was successfully demonstrated during the 2023 general elections before what it described as deliberate disruption during the presidential poll.
The SMBLF argued that compulsory electronic transmission would protect votes in vulnerable communities, reduce post-election disputes and violence, and compel elected leaders to be more accountable to citizens.
Linking electoral credibility to national security, the forum referenced recent killings and kidnappings across the country, including the reported massacre of over 100 persons in Woro, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
“If leaders were certain that votes truly counted, such reckless, negligent and indifferent governance would not thrive,” the statement added, while also renewing calls for state police and restructuring in line with the 2014 National Conference recommendations.