The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that it may mobilise mass protests or push for a boycott of future elections over what it called the Senate’s contradictory stance on the amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act, particularly on the electronic transmission of election results.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the Senate’s actions risk undermining public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and democracy.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress expresses deep concern over the confusion and contradictory narratives emerging from the Senate regarding the amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act,” Ajaero said.
The Senate, on February 4, passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026, but notably rejected Clause 60(3), a provision that would have made it mandatory for presiding officers to electronically transmit results in real time from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Instead, lawmakers retained the current discretionary language, allowing electronic transmission only after votes have been counted and declared publicly at the polling unit — a move that has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups and opposition parties.
The NLC said, “Public records suggest the proposed amendment to mandate INEC to transmit results electronically in real time was not adopted. The existing discretionary provision was retained.
“This has generated nationwide apprehension, and subsequent explanations have only added to the confusion.”
The labour union accused the Senate of institutionalising ambiguity, warning that vague legal language at such a critical time, following the contentious 2023 elections, could permanently damage electoral integrity.
“Legislative ambiguity is a disservice to our democracy. Nigerians deserve a transparent system where votes are not only counted but seen to be counted,” Ajaero added.
The NLC demanded an immediate, official, and unambiguous account of the amendment’s final content, including the exact language passed and the rationale behind rejecting real-time e-transmission.
“The National Assembly leadership must also ensure the harmonisation process produces a final bill with crystal-clear provisions,” the statement said.
The NLC warned that if real-time electronic transmission is not made explicit and compulsory, organised labour could launch mass action before, during, or after the next elections — or consider boycotting the polls altogether.
The union said, “Failure to add electronic transmission in real time will lead to mass action… or total boycott of the election.
“Nigerian workers and citizens are watching closely. Our nation must choose the path of clarity and integrity.”
It also cited concerns over recent legislative confusion surrounding the new Tax Acts, urging lawmakers to learn from that episode.
Amid mounting criticism, Senate President Godswill Akpabio defended the chamber’s position, stating that the Senate did not reject electronic transmission outright, and stressing that it would not succumb to public pressure.
However, the Senate has now scheduled an emergency plenary session for Tuesday, February 10, sparking speculation that the contentious clause could be revisited, particularly in light of possible legal challenges being considered by figures such as Femi Falana (SAN).
