Lagos, Nigeria – February 10, 2026 – The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the country’s premier professional body for engineers, has strongly endorsed the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results, describing it as a vital tool to boost transparency, reduce manipulation, and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
In a recent statement signed by its President, Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, the NSE firmly supported the proposal for presiding officers to transmit polling unit results directly to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing (IReV) portal in real time, following the signing and stamping of Form EC8A by party agents.
The endorsement comes amid controversy over the Senate’s recent decision to reject an amendment that would have made such real-time transmission compulsory under the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill. Lawmakers cited concerns including poor network coverage in some areas, cybersecurity risks, infrastructure deficiencies, and potential legal disputes as reasons for opposing the mandatory clause.
However, the NSE dismissed these objections as lacking professional backing. “Let it be on record that the reasons mentioned above do not have the endorsement of any technically proficient professional organisation such as the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE),” the statement read.
The society highlighted key technical advantages of real-time electronic transmission, including:
Reduced risk of manipulation through minimized human handling of results and the use of encryption and digital authentication to secure data.
Faster collation and announcement of results, cutting down the days often required under manual systems.
Improved accuracy and auditability, allowing for better verification and traceability.
Cost savings and scalability in the long term.
The NSE pointed to successful implementations in countries like Estonia and India, where similar systems have enhanced electoral integrity. It argued that adopting real-time transmission could address Nigeria’s recurring history of electoral disputes while aligning with INEC’s existing technological infrastructure, such as the IReV portal used in previous elections.
“At the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), we believe that adopting real-time transmission of electronic results… could have addressed Nigeria’s history of electoral disputes while complying with INEC’s existing tech infrastructure. Therefore, we declare our full support for real-time electronic transmission of election results,” Engr. Rabiu stated.
The position has sparked widespread discussion ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the NSE urging stakeholders to prioritize evidence-based, technically sound reforms to strengthen democracy.
Clarion Newschannel will continue to monitor developments on this critical electoral issue.
NSE Throws Weight Behind Real-Time Electronic Transmission of Election Results, Slams Senate’s Rejection as Technically Flawed
