The founder of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance and former Vice President of the World Bank, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has argued that the adoption of mandatoryelectronic transmission of election results is the only definitive way to end the era of results manipulation and electoral fraud in Nigeria.
Speaking on the critical intersection of technology and democracy, the former Education Minister argued that the proper utilization of an electronic framework would ensure that no individual or group has the capacity to alter outcomes once they have been decided by the electorate at the polling units.
In a critique of the current legislative environment, Ezekwesili accused certain members of the Senate of actively working to undermine electoral transparency.
She alleged that a plot exists among some lawmakers to frustrate reforms that would make real-time electronic transmission a legal requirement, thereby leaving room for discretionary actions that historically erode public trust.
According to her, democracy belongs to the citizens rather than political office holders, and any attempt to block the path toward a more transparent ballot is a direct assault on the foundation of a stable democracy.
Ezekwesili emphasized that the process of electronic transmission is both straightforward and battle-tested, having been successfully deployed in previous off-cycle elections.
She detailed the workflow where results are entered into the prescribed Form EC8A, signed by presiding officers and party agents, and immediately uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal.
Citing the high success rates and improved public confidence recorded during elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun states, she maintained that there is no technical justification for opposing a system that grants the public real-time access to the will of the voters.
The former minister warned that the persistence of corruption and poor governance in Nigeria is directly linked to the lack of transparent vote counting.
She urged Nigerians to be vocal in demanding greater accountability and called on lawmakers to support clear, compulsory legal provisions for e-transmission.
By enshrining these reforms in law, Ezekwesili believes Nigeria can finally transition to a system where the integrity of the ballot is non-negotiable and the voice of the citizen remains the ultimate authority in governance.
