2027: INEC Seeks Simpler Electoral Act to Clarify Result Transmission Ahead of Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission has called for a simplified version of Nigeria’s Electoral Act, arguing that clearer language would help voters better understand the law and reduce recurring disputes over election procedures, particularly the transmission of results.

Speaking at a citizens’ town hall meeting in Abuja on Sunday, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, said the country needs legislation written in plain and accessible language. According to him, many of the controversies that trail elections stem not only from implementation challenges but also from how provisions of the law are interpreted.

The town hall was organised by the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity and the Electoral Act, bringing together civil society groups, legal experts and election observers as preparations gradually begin for the 2027 general elections.

Amupitan said the Commission had carefully reviewed the Electoral Act and identified sections that may benefit from clearer drafting. “What Nigeria needs is what I call simple legislation,” he told participants. “A simple language legislation whereby it will be possible for every Nigerian to understand and appreciate the provisions of every section.”

Nigeria’s current Electoral Act was last amended in 2022, ahead of the 2023 general elections. The amendments introduced technological innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and provisions on electronic transmission of results. According to INEC’s official data, over 93 million Nigerians were registered to vote for the 2023 elections, underscoring the scale and importance of clarity in electoral rules.

However, the interpretation and implementation of electronic transmission provisions sparked legal and political disputes during and after the polls. Several petitions filed at election tribunals referenced alleged inconsistencies in result uploads and the meaning of “real-time” transmission.

Addressing the issue directly, Amupitan said the controversy over real-time transmission largely revolves around how the term is defined. When INEC initially adopted electronic transmission, he noted, the Commission believed it should be mandatory. “But let us be sincere about this,” he said, “the only problem we had is how to define what we call real time.”

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He cited a recent example from the Federal Capital Territory area council elections. While results from five area councils were transmitted promptly, the result from Kabi ward in Kuje was not available until the following day. INEC officials in the area could not be reached by phone at the time.

“You expect that in a place like FCT, you should be able to transmit your results without any encumbrance,” Amupitan said. “But we had a situation where it was impossible for us to have a real-time transmission of results because of coverage.”

The Federal Capital Territory, often regarded as one of the best connected regions in Nigeria, has mobile network penetration rates above 80 percent, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission. Yet even in Abuja, network disruptions remain common in certain districts. Experts say the situation is more challenging in remote parts of the country where broadband access is limited.

Nigeria has 774 local government areas, many with rural communities that face persistent connectivity gaps. According to industry data, internet penetration nationwide stood at roughly 46 percent as of 2023. Election observers argue that any law mandating strict real-time electronic transmission must take into account these infrastructural limitations.

Political analysts say the debate goes beyond semantics. During the 2023 elections, opposition parties questioned delays in uploading presidential results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal. Although INEC maintained that physical collation remains the legally recognised method for determining outcomes, the episode deepened public scrutiny of the Commission’s processes.

A constitutional lawyer based in Abuja, who attended the town hall, said clarity in the Electoral Act would help reduce post-election litigation. Nigeria’s 2023 general elections generated hundreds of tribunal cases nationwide, with the presidential election petition decided by the Court of Appeal sitting as the Presidential Election Petition Court.

“Ambiguity in drafting leaves room for conflicting interpretations,” the lawyer said. “When you are dealing with an electorate of over 90 million registered voters, precision matters.”

Civil society groups have long advocated reforms that enhance transparency while remaining realistic about infrastructure constraints. Representatives of election monitoring organisations at the event urged lawmakers to consult widely before any further amendments. They argued that simplified language should not dilute accountability mechanisms.

The call for plain-language legislation also touches on a broader issue of civic education. Nigeria’s voter turnout in the 2023 presidential election stood at about 27 percent of registered voters, according to INEC figures, the lowest since the return to democracy in 1999. Analysts say improving public understanding of electoral processes could help rebuild trust and encourage participation.

Amupitan emphasised that INEC does not see transmission itself as the main problem. “I don’t see the issue of transmission as a problem,” he said. “The problem is the adequacy of the network we have.”

That distinction is likely to shape discussions in the National Assembly as lawmakers consider potential amendments ahead of 2027. The Senate and House of Representatives have in the past debated whether to make electronic transmission mandatory or subject to approval by the Nigerian Communications Commission based on network coverage.

For voters, the debate is not merely technical. Clear rules on result transmission can affect perceptions of credibility, especially in tightly contested races. Businesses and investors also monitor electoral stability closely, as political uncertainty can influence market sentiment and economic planning.

As preparations for the next general elections gather pace, INEC’s message is that reform should focus not only on technology but also on language. Simplifying the Electoral Act, Amupitan argued, would empower citizens to better understand their rights and responsibilities and reduce disputes born out of confusion.

Whether lawmakers will act on that call remains to be seen. What is clear is that with millions of Nigerians expected to return to the polls in 2027, the clarity of the rules governing those elections may prove just as important as the technology used to conduct them.