The Peoples Democratic Party has urged Nigerians to reject the clause in the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill that allows for the manual transmission of election results, warning that it could undermine transparency and compromise the integrity of the 2027 general elections.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, who stated this in a statement on Tuesday, also condemned the House of Representatives for abandoning what it called its earlier pro-people stance and adopting a Senate provision that threatens electoral transparency.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved the electronic transmission of election results while keeping manual collation as a backup.

This followed a tense plenary session in which 15 senators opposed the retention of the contentious proviso in Clause 60 of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2026.

The vote was sharply divided, with 55 senators supporting the manual backup clause and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC/Abia South), along with 14 others, opposing it.

In response, the PDP called the move a breach of public trust and a factor that could increase the lack of transparency in elections.

The party stated, “This is a clear betrayal of public trust. It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives abandoned the pro-people position they took and adopted the anti-people version of the Senate.

“The legislators are delegates of power and should at all times act in the interest of the delegator of power. They are not in Parliament to legislate for themselves but to legislate for the people.

“The proviso is a catalyst for deepened election opacity and must be opposed by all lovers of democracy.”

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