The Nigerian Guild of Editors has voiced serious concerns regarding the Senate’s stance on the transmission of election results ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement jointly signed by Eze Anaba, President, and Onuoha Ukeh, General Secretary, the Guild highlighted that this issue is breeding doubt and mistrust in the electoral process among Nigerians.
The Guild criticized the Senate’s adoption of provisions in the proposed 2022 Electoral Act, which allows for the transmission of election results without making it mandatory or immediate. This has sparked public outrage and could discourage voter participation in future elections.
As citizens demand mandatory and immediate transmission of results from polling units to central collation centers, the Senate’s position is seen as a significant setback in efforts to enhance electoral transparency. The Guild emphasized that global standards increasingly favor mandatory electronic transmission to improve electoral credibility and efficiency.
With the Senate reconvening on February 10, 2026, to reconcile its position with the House of Representatives, there remains an opportunity to uphold electoral integrity by ensuring the mandatory and immediate transmission of results to the INEC central server.
The editors’ body reiterated that digitalizing elections through real-time result transmission will enhance transparency, accuracy, and voter confidence, thereby reducing disputes and electoral fraud.
Nigerians are closely watching this issue, and the Guild expects the harmonized provisions to reflect the necessity for immediate and mandatory transmission of election results. Anything less would fall short of contemporary electoral practices and undermine the trust in Nigeria’s democracy.
