The Nigerian Senate’s rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results is a deliberate move to undermine transparency, credibility, and public trust in the electoral process ahead of 2027. This decision is not a technical adjustment but a political calculation that preserves loopholes for manipulation. By refusing to make electronic transmission compulsory, the Senate has chosen opacity over openness and elite convenience over democratic integrity, placing Nigeria’s already fragile democracy in grave danger.
Mandatory electronic transmission ensures real-time reporting of results, drastically reducing human interference at collation centres—the weakest link in Nigeria’s elections. It promotes transparency, accountability, and efficiency, aligning Nigeria with global democratic standards. The refusal by the Akpabio-led Senate raises serious questions about its commitment to reform and amounts to a betrayal of Nigerians’ demand for credible elections. At the same time, INEC is battling a credibility crisis, with opposition parties alleging bias in favour of the ruling APC, a perception that—true or not—erodes confidence and heightens electoral tension.
Recent by-elections have been marred by allegations of intimidation, vote-buying, corruption, and manipulation, with some opposition parties accusing INEC of complicity. These claims, combined with the Senate’s decision, risk pushing political actors toward self-help measures. The consequences are clear: increased electoral disputes, declining public trust, and a dangerous incentive for violence as parties and supporters feel compelled to “defend” their votes outside institutional channels.
History offers stark warnings. The 2011 post-election violence, which claimed over 800 lives, followed disputed results. The 2020 #EndSARS protests revealed deep, pent-up frustrations that can quickly spiral when trust collapses. Across Africa, democratic failures and opaque elections have often preceded military interventions, as seen in Nigeria’s past coups and more recently in Niger and Mali. When legislatures fail to uphold democratic principles, instability follows—and democracy becomes the casualty.
The Senate must urgently reverse course. Electoral transparency, accountability, and representation are non-negotiable democratic tenets. The way forward is clear: reconsider the decision, engage stakeholders in genuine dialogue, and strengthen INEC’s autonomy to deliver credible elections. To the Akpabio-led Senate: do not let selfish interests and desperation becloud your judgment. Leaders think of the next generation, not the next election. Nigeria may not get another chance to fix a decision that undermines its democracy.
— Great Imo Jonathan
