The Deputy Chief Whip of the 10th Senate and Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has provided detailed clarification on the Senate’s position regarding the compulsory electronic transmission of election results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) as contained in the proposed Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Senator Nwebonyi clarified on Wednesday while featuring on Channels Television and ARISE Television, where he explained the true position of the 10th Senate on the provision mandating the electronic transmission of election results.
According to him, the 10th Senate courageously responded to the yearnings of Nigerians by making electronic transmission of results to IREV compulsory for the first time in the history of Nigeria. He stressed that this landmark provision strengthens transparency, credibility, and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The lawmaker further clarified that the proviso permitting the use of manual result sheets (Form EC8 series) in the event of network failure or other unforeseen circumstances does not invalidate or undermine the compulsory electronic transmission. Rather, it is a practical safeguard designed to prevent the outright cancellation of election results due to technical glitches beyond the control of electoral officers.
Senator Nwebonyi noted that the clarification has helped to assuage the concerns of Nigerians who initially misconstrued the proviso as a reversal of the electronic transmission mandate.
He therefore called on all patriotic Nigerians to commend the 10th Senate for taking a bold and historic step toward deepening Nigeria’s democratic process through electoral reforms.
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