Electoral College of Nigeria Condemns Senate's Stance on Electronic Results Transmission
The Electoral College of Nigeria has issued a strong rebuke against the Senate's persistent refusal to incorporate mandatory automatic electronic transmission of election results into the Electoral Act. The organization characterizes this decision as a significant setback for the advancement of democratic reforms within the nation's electoral framework.
Executive Director Highlights Transparency Concerns
In an official statement, the group's Executive Director, Kunle Lawal, articulated that resisting the implementation of mandatory electronic transmission fundamentally weakens electoral transparency and severely undermines public confidence in Nigeria's electoral processes. "Automatic result transmission is not a radical innovation," Lawal asserted. "It is a widely accepted safeguard designed to protect the integrity of votes cast by citizens. Its primary value lies in reducing human interference between polling units and final collation centers, the stage most vulnerable in Nigeria's electoral process."
Addressing Electoral Malpractices Through Technology
Lawal drew attention to the repeated instances of electoral malpractices that have plagued Nigerian elections, including:
- Ballot stuffing
- Result alteration
- Missing result sheets
- Intimidation at collation centers
He emphasized that these persistent issues make real-time electronic transmission an essential tool for creating a verifiable digital record that can counteract such irregularities. Lawal cautioned that while manual collation is not inherently fraudulent, it inherently leaves substantial room for manipulation and often leads to prolonged post-election disputes. "Nigeria has repeatedly witnessed elections where outcomes announced at collation centers differ sharply from figures recorded at polling units. Complaints raised by citizens, party agents, and even electoral officials are often buried under procedural delays," Lawal explained.
Advocating for Legal Obligations Over Discretion
According to Lawal, automatic transmission would not eliminate electoral disputes entirely but would drastically reduce their scale by making manipulation more difficult and easily traceable. He also dismissed common concerns regarding infrastructure or connectivity limitations, noting that hybrid systems allowing for offline data capture with later synchronization have proven effective in other nations. Lawal firmly rejected proposals to make electronic transmission optional, insisting it should be established as a legal obligation rather than left to the discretion of electoral authorities. "A credible electoral framework must be clear, predictable, and binding. Automatic transmission should not be a guideline; it should be a legal requirement," he declared.
Warning of Democratic Consequences
Lawal further warned that failing to adopt this crucial reform could have severe consequences for Nigeria's democracy, including deepening voter apathy, fueling post-election disputes, and eroding democratic legitimacy. "Nigerians, especially young people, increasingly question the value of voting when outcomes appear predetermined or easily manipulated. Low turnout is not just a civic issue; it is a crisis of legitimacy," Lawal added, highlighting the broader societal impact of electoral mistrust.
Call for Legislative Reconsideration
The Electoral College has urgently called upon lawmakers to reconsider their position on this matter, emphasizing that protecting the integrity of votes represents a national imperative that transcends political divisions. "Nigeria deserves an electoral system that reflects the will of its citizens clearly, transparently, and credibly. Rejecting automatic result transmission is to accept flaws that have long eroded trust, peace, and democratic legitimacy," the statement concluded, underscoring the critical need for electoral integrity in fostering national stability and democratic progress.
