Political commentator Reno Omokri has alleged that calls for the real-time electronic transmission of election results by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could expose the country’s electoral system to hacking.
Omokri made the claim while reacting to recent demands by former presidential candidate Peter Obi and his supporters, including a protest at the National Assembly advocating for reforms to mandate real-time transmission of results during elections.
According to Omokri, INEC recorded approximately 12 million hacking attempts during the 2023 general elections. He argued that introducing or expanding real-time electronic transmission could increase vulnerabilities within the electoral system. He also referenced practices in countries such as the United States, noting that election results are not transmitted in real time through a centralized server system.
His remarks have generated widespread reactions on social media, with Nigerians debating the feasibility and security implications of electronic result transmission. Some commentators have raised concerns about technological infrastructure, cybersecurity capacity, and potential national security risks. Others have argued that greater transparency through electronic transmission could strengthen electoral credibility.
The debate has also drawn comparisons to international electoral practices, including discussions around the use of paper ballots and recent comments by technology entrepreneur Elon Musk supporting paper-based voting systems.
The controversy highlights ongoing discussions about electoral reform, transparency, and the role of technology in Nigeria’s democratic process.
