Nigerian Lawmakers Approve Live Electronic Publication of Election Results

Nigerian lawmakers have approved the live electronic publication of election results immediately after voting ends, reversing a previous rejection. The move, aimed at boosting transparency and public trust, comes ahead of the 2027 general elections. Experts say real-time results from polling units could reduce disputes, while declining voter turnout and past failed attempts to enforce voting highlight the need to restore confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Nigerian lawmakers on Tuesday reversed an earlier decision and approved the live electronic publication of election results immediately after voting concludes at polling stations. This decision, made by the Senate during an emergency meeting, comes just a year ahead of Nigeria’s next general elections scheduled for the first quarter of 2027, when voters will elect a president, state governors, and both state and national lawmakers. Lawmakers emphasized that the move is aimed at enhancing public confidence in the electoral process and ensuring greater transparency in the management and reporting of election results.
Last week, the Senate had rejected a similar proposal that would have required polling stations to publish their election results electronically and in real time. The rejection sparked widespread public outrage, with hundreds of citizens gathering outside the national parliament to protest what they viewed as a setback for electoral transparency. The reversal on Tuesday reflects a response to public pressure and the growing demand for more open and accountable elections in Africa’s most populous nation.
The Senate clarified that the approved measure would allow results to be transmitted electronically only after the completion of all statutory procedures at the polling unit. Lawmakers highlighted that this approach would enable citizens to follow election outcomes more closely, providing them with direct access to verified data from their local polling stations and reducing the potential for disputes or manipulation.
Over the past decade, Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has introduced various technological measures to improve the accuracy and credibility of election results. However, these efforts have often faced challenges, and post-election litigation has remained common, undermining public trust in the system. Experts have argued that forcing the country’s 176,000 polling units to publish results instantaneously on a centralized public platform could significantly improve confidence in elections and help reduce controversies after voting.
Voter engagement has been declining steadily in Nigeria over the past ten years, as many citizens feel that their votes are not effectively counted or reflected in election outcomes. The 2023 presidential election recorded a turnout of only 27 percent, marking the lowest participation rate since the nation returned to democratic rule in 1999. In May 2025, attempts by lawmakers to enforce mandatory voting with a six-month jail term or a 100,000-naira ($73) fine for those who failed to cast their ballots were scrapped following a public outcry, highlighting widespread skepticism about the electoral process.
The Senate’s new approval for the live electronic transmission of results represents a significant step toward addressing voter distrust, increasing transparency, and improving the integrity of Nigeria’s elections. Lawmakers and election experts alike believe that making results available in real time could encourage greater public participation and help restore faith in the democratic process ahead of the 2027 polls.