The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has expressed strong support for the retention of real-time electronic transmission of election results, urging her colleagues to uphold reforms that will strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Truthng reports that the lawmaker made her stance known in a Facebook post on Tuesday, just hours before a critical Senate plenary session aimed at revisiting the controversial Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026.
Her comments come as nationwide outrage continues over the removal of the phrase “real-time” from provisions governing the electronic transmission of results.
In her statement, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the time had come for lawmakers to align electoral laws with the demands of Nigerians for transparency and credibility.
She wrote, “As I step into the Senate chamber today, I carry with me the hopes and expectations of millions of Nigerians who yearn for stronger democratic safeguards enshrined in our laws.
“Real-time electronic transmission of election results is a critical step toward deepening transparency, preserving the sanctity of the people’s mandate, and restoring public confidence in our electoral process.
“Our democracy must continue to evolve with systems that ensure every vote truly counts and every voice is faithfully represented. Nigeria deserves elections that inspire trust, strengthen unity, and reflect the genuine will of the people.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s intervention came on the heels of mass protests at the National Assembly complex, with demonstrators under the #OccupyNASS movement demanding that the Senate reverse its decision to delete “real-time” from the amended law.
Pro-democracy campaigners, civil society organisations, opposition parties, professional groups, and youth networks have all condemned the change, arguing that it could undermine electoral transparency and open the door to manipulation of results.
The protest movement has since gathered momentum, with critics accusing the legislature of backpedalling on key reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, scaled third reading in the Senate last week. However, the removal of the “real-time” clause from the section on result transmission has emerged as the most divisive provision.
While the Senate has issued statements clarifying that electronic transmission remains intact, observers insist that the lack of explicit language weakens safeguards and creates room for post-election disputes.
The Red Chamber is expected to deliberate further on the bill under growing public scrutiny and sustained calls for reinstatement of the real-time clause.
