• Vote-trading offenders to risk N5m fineSunday Aborisade in AbujaSenate may take a decisive step towards tightening Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general election, with realtime electronic transmission of results at the centre of far-reaching amendments to the Electoral Act. The proposed provision, which mandates the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically transmit results from polling units directly to INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) immediately after vote counting, would be debated clause by clause today when Senate considers the report of its Committee on Electoral Matters. The report further amended Section 54(1) to address alleged abuses during voting by visually impaired and incapacitated persons. The amendment proposed an increase in the fine under Section 22 from N500,000 to N5 million for offenders. Given the implications of the proposed amendments for Nigeria’s democracy, Akpabio appealed to senators to approach the exercise with diligence and restraint.