Nigeria, Feb. 13 -- For weeks, Nigerians have protested outside the National Assembly over proposed amendments to the Electoral Act 2022. At the centre of this controversy is a technical but crucial question: how should election results be transmitted from polling units to collation centres? The answer to this question will determine the credibility of Nigeria's 2027 general elections and potentially every election thereafter.

The Current Legal Framework

The Electoral Act 2022 governs how elections are conducted in Nigeria, but its provisions on result transmission are notably vague. Section 60(5) of the Act states that "the presiding officer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accredited voters and the results of ...