Senator Henry Seriake Dickson has expressed disappointment over the Senate’s initial refusal to pass a clause mandating the electronic transmission of election results from polling units, describing the development as a setback to years of legislative work aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE Television, the Bayelsa West lawmaker said he was deeply saddened when he learned of the Senate’s decision while mourning the death of his brother and the state’s Deputy Governor in Bayelsa State.
Dickson, a member of the Electoral Committee, said the clause had been the focus of extensive consultations and deliberations for more than two years and had been approved in its agreed form by the House of Representatives.
“This was what we had been working on for the past two years,” he said, while commending Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and members of the House for supporting the provision.
The senator said he shared in the anger and frustration expressed by Nigerians following the Senate’s decision, noting that he had consistently championed electronic transmission of results since the 9th Senate, where the issue was subjected to a formal vote.
After resuming legislative duties following his mourning period, Dickson said he confronted Senate leaders during an emergency session and sought a reversal of the decision.
According to him, the leadership responded by initiating a motion for rescission, moved by Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno.
However, he noted that the revised clause included a proviso allowing results to be validated in cases of network failure, a development he said fell short of what reform advocates had pushed for.
Despite his reservations, Dickson described the outcome as “incremental progress” rather than a defeat for democracy.
“In parliament, you don’t get all you want at the time you want,” he said. “What happened was not a loss to democracy. It is something we can work with while hoping to improve on it later.”
He reiterated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had assured lawmakers of its capacity to transmit election results nationwide and said lawmakers believed the commission’s claim.
The former Bayelsa governor also clarified the role of INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IREV), explaining that it provides real-time access to polling unit results but does not collate or determine election winners.
“IREV does not collate election results, nor is it proof of any election win,” he said. “It only shows results in real time.”
Dickson said INEC would issue guidelines directing presiding officers to transmit signed results electronically to IREV, which he argued would help curb manipulation at collation centres.
According to him, most electoral malpractice occurs at ward and local government collation centres, where results are sometimes altered.
“The introduction of IREV has addressed the problem of manipulation at collation centres,” he said. “It cuts off brigandage, executive interference, and thuggery.”
While faulting the proviso on network failure, Dickson maintained that laws should be based on general rules rather than rare exceptions.
He warned that presiding officers who fail to comply with transmission guidelines could face sanctions.
He also acknowledged that the opposition currently lacks sufficient numbers in the National Assembly to fully influence legislative outcomes.
“This was the best we could get under the circumstances,” he said.
The senator urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the democratic process, calling on citizens to actively participate in elections by voting for credible candidates and ensuring their votes are transmitted on IREV.
“Nigeria does not practice electronic voting,” he noted. “Real-time monitoring begins only after results are declared at polling units.”
Dickson further stressed that wherever mobile and financial transactions are possible, INEC should also be able to transmit election results electronically.
He concluded by calling for nationwide voter sensitisation and mobilisation ahead of future elections.
“Don’t give up on our democracy,” he said. “Sensitise and mobilise.”
