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Opposition parties fault Senate’s rejection of mandatory e-transmission
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PDP, ADC, NNPP accuse APC of undermining electoral transparency
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Parties warn decision could erode public trust ahead of 2027 polls
Major opposition political parties have condemned the Senate’s rejection of the proposal seeking to make real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units mandatory, describing the decision as a major setback for Nigeria’s democratic process.
The parties, in a joint statement, accused the Senate, dominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC), of deliberately weakening electoral transparency and undermining public confidence in elections.
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The statement was jointly signed by the National Publicity Secretaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
According to the opposition parties, the Senate’s action has grave implications for the credibility of future elections and could reverse years of progress made in electoral reforms.
They said the decision compelled them to speak out collectively, warning that it was capable of derailing Nigeria’s democracy.
The parties alleged that the ruling APC was opposed to credible elections, claiming that the rejection of mandatory electronic transmission was driven by fear of voter rejection at the polls.
They argued that a party that freely deploys technology for internal membership registration and administration should not oppose the use of similar technology to transmit election results.
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According to the opposition, such a position exposes what they described as hypocrisy within the ruling party.
They also criticised senators for failing to rise above partisan interests, insisting that lawmakers should prioritise democratic values over party loyalty.
The opposition parties recalled that during the 2023 general elections, the Supreme Court ruled that the Electoral Act 2022 did not make electronic transmission of results compulsory, a development they said exposed a clear gap in the law.
They argued that the ongoing amendment process provided an opportunity to correct the omission and strengthen the credibility of future elections.
The parties maintained that mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results would improve transparency, enhance public trust, and reduce disputes arising from the collation of results.
They urged members of the National Assembly Conference Committee to adopt the position of the House of Representatives, which supports compulsory electronic transmission.
According to them, lawmakers should act as statesmen with the future of the country in mind, rather than focusing solely on short-term political gains.
The opposition warned that failure to pass the amendment could entrench anti-democratic practices and further weaken confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.