The Nigeria Labour Congress has raised alarm over recent changes to the Electoral Act, saying the actions of the Senate could lead to nationwide protests and a boycott of future elections. The labour union said its concern comes from unclear and conflicting explanations by lawmakers on whether electronic transmission of election results will be compulsory.
The NLC said Nigerians are becoming worried because the Senate has not clearly stated the final decision on electronic transmission of results. According to the union, this uncertainty weakens trust in the electoral process and creates doubt about how votes will be counted and recorded.
The labour body explained that records from the Senate show that a proposal requiring the Independent National Electoral Commission to transmit results electronically in real time was removed. Instead, the law retains a provision that allows electronic transmission only at the discretion of INEC after results are announced at polling units. The NLC said this decision has caused fear and confusion across the country.
The Congress warned that unclear laws at a time when the country is still dealing with issues from past elections could damage confidence in democracy. It called on the Senate to clearly explain what was passed, why certain provisions were removed, and what the final wording of the amendment contains.
The NLC also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that the final version of the amended law leaves no room for doubt, especially on how results are transmitted and collated. It insisted that the law must clearly direct INEC to transmit election results electronically in real time.
The union stated that failure to include such a clear directive could force Nigerian workers and citizens to take mass action, including protests before, during, and after elections, or a complete boycott of the polls.
This warning followed the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill after voting against a clause that would have made real-time electronic transmission of results mandatory. The Senate later defended its action, saying it did not reject electronic transmission.
Amid growing public criticism from labour groups, civil society organisations, and opposition figures, the Senate has fixed an emergency sitting for February 10, 2026. The meeting may reconsider the rejected amendment as legal threats and public pressure continue to mount.