By Our Reporter
Senate’s rejection of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in the 2027 general polls has been heavily criticized.
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, High Chief Ikechukwu Cornelius Anonye in a press statement, Thursday, not only condemned the action but also described it as a setback for electoral transparency.
High Chief Anonye in a statement expressed deep concern over the decision of the Nigerian Senate to reject the provision making mandatory, real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units a legal requirement in the Electoral Act amendment.
He stated that while electronic transmission of results remains permissible at the discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the refusal to entrench it as a statutory obligation represents a missed opportunity to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
“Mandatory real-time electronic transmission would have provided a clear, verifiable, and tamper-resistant trail of results directly from polling units to the public domain. Its rejection leaves critical stages of result collation vulnerable to manipulation, delays, and disputes—challenges that have historically undermined the credibility of elections in Nigeria.
“Elections are not only about voting; they are about trust. In a democracy as large and diverse as Nigeria’s, public trust depends on systems that minimize human interference and maximize openness.
“Leaving result transmission entirely to administrative discretion, rather than legal certainty, weakens safeguards against electoral malpractice and limits citizens’ ability to hold institutions accountable.
“This decision is particularly troubling given Nigeria’s repeated post-election litigations, many of which arise from disputes over result collation and transmission. A clear legal mandate for real-time electronic transmission would have reduced ambiguity, enhanced judicial clarity, and strengthened electoral integrity.
After failing countless times to amend their own version of the electoral Bill, the Senate on Wednesday, retained the Electoral Act 2022 Amendment Bill for transferring of election results by the INEC result portal.
In its amendment, the upper chamber, however, failed to make electronic transfer of election results mandatory as majority of Nigerians would wish.
Recall that the Court verdict in the aftermath of the 2023 election was that electronic transfer of results was not mandatory in the electoral act giving the INEC the leeway to use any form of transfer it deemed fit.
Anonye urged the National Assembly, as the bill progresses through legislative harmonization, to reconsider this position in the broader interest of democratic consolidation.
“I also call on the INEC to, notwithstanding the absence of a mandate, commit publicly to the consistent use of transparent electronic transmission technologies in all elections.
“Nigeria’s democracy deserves laws that look forward, not backward. Electoral reforms must be guided by the will of the people, global best practices, and the urgent need to restore confidence in the ballot”, he stated.
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