By Joy Yesufu
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has criticised the Senate’s refusal to mandate the electronic transmission of election results, describing the decision as a major setback to electoral transparency and democratic accountability.
The position was contained in an executive report presented by the NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, at the Association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Thursday in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Osigwe informed the council that the Senate rejected a proposed amendment to the Electoral Amendment Bill that sought to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically transmit polling unit results in real time.
According to him, the rejected amendment targeted Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the bill and would have required presiding officers to upload polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal immediately after Form EC8A had been signed and stamped.
Instead, the Senate retained the existing provision of the Electoral Act, which allows election results to be transmitted “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”
Following deliberations, the NBA NEC resolved that the National Assembly should reconsider its position and explicitly mandate electronic transmission of election results.
“The National Assembly should vote in favour of the proposed amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill aimed at compelling the electronic transmission of election results,” the report stated.
The association warned that failure to clearly provide for electronic transmission would continue to create loopholes, undermine public confidence in the electoral process and fuel post-election disputes and litigation.
Beyond electoral reforms, the NEC meeting also expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in the Federal Capital Territory, particularly the resurgence of deadly “one-chance” robberies.
Osigwe told council members that Abuja had once again been thrown into fear following the killing of two women by criminals posing as commercial transport operators.
He identified the victims as Ms Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumeziem, a nurse, and Princess Chigbo Mediatrix, a lawyer and former Treasurer of the NBA Abuja Branch.
According to the NBA President, the killings were a stark reminder that insecurity was tightening its grip on the nation’s capital.
“These were not faceless victims. They were professionals, contributors to society and ordinary citizens whose only intention was to return safely from their daily engagements,” he said.
Osigwe described the murder of the Abuja-based lawyer as particularly painful for the legal community, noting that her death underscored the vulnerability of citizens, including legal practitioners.
“For us in the legal profession, the murder of Princess Chigbo Mediatrix is deeply personal. She was one of us and served the NBA Abuja Branch with dedication,” he said.
He warned that when citizens can no longer commute safely and criminals operate with impunity in the nation’s capital, the foundations of social order are severely threatened.
The NBA condemned the killings in strong terms and called on security agencies and the Federal Capital Territory Administration to treat the situation as an emergency.
“The pattern is no longer deniable. Criminal gangs masquerading as commercial transport operators have turned daily commuting into a deadly gamble,” Osigwe said.
He urged authorities to intensify intelligence gathering, surveillance and policing of transport corridors, while also calling for thorough investigations and prosecution of all those involved.
“Those responsible, whether as direct perpetrators, collaborators or enablers, must be identified, arrested and prosecuted. Justice must not only be promised; it must be delivered,” he said.
The NEC meeting ended with the NBA reaffirming its commitment to defending constitutional governance, electoral integrity and public safety, while urging the legislature and security agencies to take decisive action to restore public confidence.
