By Olakunle Oke
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the Nigerian Senate’s rejection of real-time electronic transmission of election results, describing the move as a deliberate attack on electoral transparency and a dangerous setback for Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a statement on Thursday through his X handle, Atiku said the decision represents a calculated blow against credibility and public trust, especially at a time when democracies around the world are strengthening their electoral systems through technology.
According to him, the Senate’s action shows a preference for opacity and the preservation of loopholes that have historically enabled manipulation, tampering, and post-election disputes.
The former vice president stressed that real-time electronic transmission of results is not a partisan demand but a democratic safeguard that reduces human interference, limits manipulation, and ensures that votes recorded at polling units are accurately reflected in final outcomes.
He criticised what he described as a “face-saving provision” in the 2022 Electoral Act, arguing that rejecting direct electronic transmission signals an unwillingness by the political establishment to submit elections to public scrutiny.
Atiku warned that the development raises serious concerns about the commitment of the ruling elite to conduct free, fair, and credible elections in 2027, noting that reforms aimed at strengthening transparency are often resisted, while ambiguities that benefit incumbents are preserved.
He reiterated that democracy must evolve with time and technology, insisting that elections should be decided by voters—not by manual delays, backroom alterations, procedural excuses, or judicial interventions.
The former vice president called on Nigerians, civil society organisations, the media, and the international community to take note of what he termed a democratic regression and to continue demanding an electoral system that reflects modern standards.
“Nigeria deserves elections that are transparent, verifiable, and beyond manipulation. Anything less is an injustice to the electorate and a betrayal of democracy,” Atiku said.
