Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Throws Weight Behind Real-Time Election Results

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has voiced strong support for retaining real-time electronic transmission of election results, urging her colleagues to uphold reforms that will bolster public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The lawmaker shared her position in a Facebook post on Tuesday, just hours before a crucial Senate plenary session set to revisit the contentious Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026.

Her remarks come amid nationwide outrage over the removal of the phrase “real-time” from provisions governing electronic result transmission.

In her statement, Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized the urgent need for lawmakers to align electoral laws with the Nigerian people’s demand for transparency and accountability. She wrote:

“As I step into the Senate chamber today, I carry the hopes and expectations of millions of Nigerians who seek stronger democratic safeguards in our laws. Real-time electronic transmission of election results is essential to deepen transparency, protect the sanctity of the people’s mandate, and restore public trust in our electoral process. Our democracy must evolve with systems that ensure every vote counts and every voice is truly represented. Nigeria deserves elections that inspire trust, strengthen unity, and reflect the genuine will of the people.”

Her intervention follows mass protests at the National Assembly complex, where demonstrators under the #OccupyNASS movement demanded the Senate reverse its decision to remove “real-time” from the amended law.

Pro-democracy advocates, civil society organizations, opposition parties, professional groups, and youth networks have criticized the change, warning that it could compromise electoral transparency and open the door to manipulation.

The protest movement has gained momentum, with critics accusing the legislature of retreating on key reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, passed third reading in the Senate last week, but the deletion of the “real-time” clause in the section on result transmission remains the most divisive issue.

While the Senate insists that electronic transmission will continue, observers argue that the absence of explicit language weakens safeguards and could trigger post-election disputes. The Red Chamber is expected to continue deliberations under mounting public scrutiny and calls for reinstating the real-time clause.