Making E-Transmission of Election Results Work: Practical Steps for Credible 2027 Polls

 

Nigeria’s electoral journey has long been plagued by disputes over result collation and transmission. The introduction of electronic transmission under the Electoral Act 2022, via the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), marked a significant step toward greater transparency. Yet, the 2023 general elections exposed persistent glitches—delayed uploads, network failures in some areas, and public skepticism that undermined confidence in the process.

Recent amendments to the Electoral Act in 2026 have settled on a hybrid approach: presiding officers must attempt electronic transmission of polling unit results (Form EC8A) to the IReV after signing and stamping, with party agents countersigning where present. However, where network or technical issues arise, the physical Form EC8A serves as the primary document for collation. This pragmatic fallback has drawn both praise for realism and criticism for potentially opening doors to manipulation. The question now is no longer whether e-transmission is desirable, but how to make it work effectively nationwide by 2027.

Why E-Transmission Matters

Electronic transmission reduces opportunities for alteration during physical movement of result sheets from polling units to ward, local government, and state collation centres. When successful, as seen in the 2022 Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, the IReV portal allowed near real-time public access, with high upload rates (over 98% in Osun by late evening). It enhances verifiability: collation officers can cross-check against electronically transmitted data in cases of disputes, as mandated by Sections 64(4)–(6) of the Act.

INEC has consistently maintained that the technology and national infrastructure are adequate. Pilots dating back over a decade, combined with engagements with mobile network operators (MNOs), support this view. Telcos have recently affirmed that Nigeria’s networks can handle real-time transmission of small data packets (result sheets are lightweight). The challenge lies not in raw capacity but in reliability, coverage in remote areas, power supply, and human factors.

Persistent Challenges

Critics, including some former INEC officials, point to uneven network coverage, especially in rural communities, frequent power outages, and vulnerabilities to cyberattacks or device glitches. The Senate’s decision to retain a manual fallback was informed by consultations with stakeholders in communications and power sectors, who highlighted that millions of Nigerians still lack reliable electricity or internet. Without addressing these, mandatory real-time transmission risks becoming a legal trap—leading to disputes, court cases, and eroded trust.

Security concerns also loom: BVAS and IReV must be fortified against hacking or denial-of-service attacks. Logistical issues, such as device battery life, presiding officer training, and timely upload protocols, further complicate implementation.

Practical Steps to Make It Work

Making e-transmission reliable requires a multi-stakeholder effort focused on infrastructure, technology, training, and legal clarity. Here are actionable recommendations:

Enhance Infrastructure and Connectivity

INEC should partner with telcos and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for election-specific network optimisation. This could include temporary signal boosters or satellite solutions (such as Starlink) in hard-to-reach polling units. A modest investment—estimated by some experts at under N5 billion—could ensure coverage across all 8,809 wards on election day. Solar-powered charging stations for BVAS devices would mitigate power failures.

Strengthen Technology and Cybersecurity

Upgrade the IReV portal for faster, more resilient uploads with offline queuing (results stored locally and transmitted when connectivity returns). Independent security audits and end-to-end encryption are essential. INEC’s recent assurances that 2023 glitches have been eliminated must be independently verified through pre-election simulations.

Robust Training and Standard Operating Procedures

Presiding officers need hands-on, scenario-based training, including fallback protocols. Clear guidelines should specify: transmit electronically first; document any failure with timestamps and witnesses; use Form EC8A as backup without undermining the electronic record where available. Party agents and observers must be educated on their roles in verification.

Hybrid Model with Smart Safeguards

The 2026 amendment’s dual approach is sensible but needs tightening. Electronically transmitted results should retain primacy in disputes, even if manual collation proceeds due to temporary failure. Upload ward-level results (Form EC8B) to IReV immediately after collation to extend transparency. Public dashboards showing upload status per polling unit could build real-time confidence.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Monitoring

Engage civil society groups (e.g., Yiaga Africa), political parties, and international observers in pre-election testing. Establish an independent technical oversight committee for 2027 to monitor transmission performance. Public awareness campaigns should explain the system simply: paper ballots and counting remain; only transmission is digital.

Legal and Regulatory Clarity

The National Assembly and INEC must ensure regulations align with the amended Act to avoid the 2023 confusion where guidelines clashed with law. Make transmission timelines explicit (e.g., within two hours of poll closure where possible) while preserving the fallback.