I am angry. No, that’s too mild. I am incandescent with a rage that should be shared by every single Nigerian who ever stood in the sun for hours believing their vote might actually change something.
On the 4th of February 2026, the Nigerian Senate didn’t just pass a bill; they signed a death warrant for electoral transparency. They spent weeks, months of taxpayer-funded plenary sessions, posing as "reformers," only to deliver a document that is nothing more than a glorified, expensive copy of the same 2022 failure that gave us the 2023 disaster.
Majority of Nigerians want to vote, they just don’t trust INEC to even count the ballots correctly. Instead of fixing that trust deficit, the Akpabio-led Senate looked us in the eye, no they didn't even look us in the eye, they went behind closed doors and voted to keep the "discretionary" loophole for result transmission.
By rejecting mandatory transmission, they have ensured that in 2027, results can still "disappear" between the polling unit and the portal whenever it suits the powers that be. They chose to keep the system opaque, hackable, and fundamentally broken. Let’s call it what it is: They legalised "Technical Glitches."
And the audacity doesn't stop there. While Nigerians clamoured for improved logistics, the Senate responded by slashing the "Notice of Election" timeline from 360 days to a mere 180. They are literally engineering a logistical crisis. They want the chaos. They want the late materials. They want the "operational challenges" because chaos is the best friend of a rigger.
But perhaps the most insulting slap in the face is the rejection of the 10-year prison term for buying and selling PVC. Instead, they slapped a ₦5 million fine on the crime. In the world of Nigerian politics, where billions are moved in "Ghana-must-go" bags and "Bullion Vans", a ₦5 million fine is a transactional fee. It’s the Senate telling politicians: "Go ahead and buy the poor; just make sure you keep a little change for the fine."
The Senate had one job: to provide legal certainty. Instead, they gave us a legislative middle finger. They’ve proven that they aren't afraid of the law because they are the ones making it weak enough to crawl through.
If the House of Representatives harmonises with this Senate version, let us stop pretending. Let us stop the "Save Democracy" projects. Let us stop the voter education. Because how do you educate a voter to participate in a game where the referee is legally allowed to look the other way? emphasis on "legally."
This Bill is a waste of paper, a waste of our time, and a profound betrayal of Nigerians who still feel a "civic duty" to vote. To the Senate: You didn't just reject clauses today; you rejected us. And we aren't just disappointed anymore; we are awake.
Luqman is the Communications Manager at AdvoKC Foundation. He is a graduate of Economics from Kogi State University and a committed democracy enthusiast with a strong passion for good governance and citizen-led accountability.