Senator Seriake Dickson, a member of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, has said the removal of the words “real time” from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill does not weaken the provision for electronic transmission of results or undermine electoral transparency.
Speaking on Tuesday in an interview with ARISE News, Dickson said the Senate’s latest decision still makes electronic transmission of results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IREV) mandatory.
“I don’t count the proceedings of today and the outcome as a loss for democracy,” he said.
The Senate had reviewed Clause 60(3) of the bill after public backlash and restored electronic transmission of results, while retaining a proviso that allows manual collation where network failure occurs. Critics argue that removing the explicit requirement for “real-time” transmission leaves room for manipulation.
Dickson, however, insisted that the core objective of protecting IREV had been achieved. He clarified that he was speaking in his personal capacity.
“I’m not here as spokesman of the Senate. I’m here to give my views as someone who has been deeply involved in all these processes as a ranking member of this committee and as someone who participated in the proceedings of today,” he said.
He explained that discussions on electronic transmission had lasted nearly two years, involving engagements with INEC and other stakeholders.
“This has been going on for about two years or so — different workshops, conferences at the Senate Committee, joint committees and also interactions with INEC,” he said.
Dickson disclosed that he was absent when the Senate initially rejected compulsory electronic transmission because of a personal loss.
“I was not there when the Senate took that decision earlier, about a week ago, as I was bereaved… Today was the very first day I went to sit in the Senate because of the importance of this matter,” he said.
He described the Senate’s earlier decision as “unfortunate”, especially after INEC had assured lawmakers of its capacity to transmit results electronically.
On the controversy surrounding the phrase “real time”, Dickson argued that the term was being misunderstood.
“What is the meaning of real time? We are not voting electronically in Nigeria,” he said, adding that “the word ‘real time’ in this context is actually superfluous. It doesn’t on its own give you a transparent election.”
According to him, transparency lies in securing polling unit results.
“The primary evidence of who won an election is the EC8A… INEC compels presiding officers to transmit the result to IREV. That is good enough for us,” he said.
Although he expressed reservations about the network-failure proviso, Dickson said parliamentary compromise was unavoidable.
“I don’t agree with the proviso that has been included, but parliament works on the basis of majority,” he said.
He stressed that the law still mandates electronic transmission, noting that “the general rule is that every presiding officer shall transmit the result electronically. That is mandatory.”
Dickson concluded that electoral reforms must be gradual.
“You make gains incrementally… We have made electronic transfer mandatory, and that is progress,” he said.
