The All Progressives Congress has described the National Assembly’s approach to real-time electronic transmission in the recently amended Electoral Act as “pragmatic and realistic,” emphasizing that lawmakers considered Nigeria’s technological infrastructure before finalizing the law.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on The Morning Brief programme on Channels Television.
He was responding to questions about the swift passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu less than 24 hours after approval by both chambers of the National Assembly.
“The Senate and the House of Representatives, in passing the Electoral Act, were being very pragmatic and realistic, taking into account the state of communication technology in our country,” Morka said.
He noted that the law’s passage reflected the consensus of all parties represented in the legislature.
“Let’s remember that APC is not the only party in the National Assembly. Other parties have representation too. So the outcome of any bill must be seen as the collective decision of all members, not just one party,” he explained.
Morka also highlighted the importance of balancing electoral aspirations with existing infrastructural realities, pointing to connectivity challenges in many parts of the country.
“We must be realistic as a people. While aspirations for real-time results are understandable, the reality is that internet connectivity varies widely across Nigeria. Even this morning, I struggled through multiple networks to join this programme,” he said.
“I wish the situation were different, but the National Assembly had to factor these limitations into their decisions on real-time electronic transmission.”
The APC spokesman urged Nigerians to appreciate the legislative process and the need for practical solutions while working toward the long-term goal of fully digitized election reporting.
