The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a strong warning that it may launch nationwide strikes or boycott elections if the amended Electoral Act fails to mandate real-time electronic transmission of election results.
NLC President Joe Ajaero said the law must clearly compel INEC to transmit results electronically from polling units in real time, warning that any ambiguity risks further erosion of public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Senate Rejection Sparks Concern
The alert follows the Senate’s February 4 rejection of a proposal that sought to make real-time electronic transmission mandatory under the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026. While the Senate retained existing provisions on e-transmission, these do not legally obligate INEC to transmit results in real time, leaving manual collation as the dominant practice despite the use of the IReV portal.
Ajaero described the Senate’s action as “confusion and contradictory narratives”, stressing that Nigerians deserve an election system “in which their votes are not only counted but are clearly seen to be counted.”
Demand for Clear and Enforceable Rules
The NLC called on the National Assembly to ensure the final bill contains unambiguous, enforceable provisions for electronic transmission and collation.
“The amended Act must provide an unambiguous mandate for INEC to electronically transmit and collate results from polling units in real time. The road to the 2027 elections must be built on certainty, transparency, and trust—not confusion,” Ajaero said.
He warned that ignoring this demand could trigger mass action before, during, and after elections—or even a total boycott.
“Our nation must choose clarity and integrity. We cannot afford a repeat of the confusion that followed recent tax reforms,” the statement added.
The NLC stressed that swift action is crucial to restore public trust and safeguard the credibility of the 2027 elections.
E-Transmission Law: NLC Threatens Strikes Over Senate’s Inaction, Election Boycott
