Electoral Act: Speaker defends hybrid election results transmission
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt.Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has clarified that the National Assembly’s decision to include both electronic and manual transmissions of results in the amended Electoral Act is a strategic move to prevent voter apathy and ensure inclusivity during the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a courtesy visit from the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Felix Costales, the Speaker emphasized that relying solely on electronic methods would be counterproductive given Nigeria's current infrastructure limitations.
A central pillar of the Speaker's argument is the significant gap in Nigeria’s internet coverage.
Referencing a report from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Abbas noted that 40% of Nigerian territories remain underserved or completely uncovered by internet services.
He argued that forcing a 100% electronic transmission system would effectively disenfranchise millions of voters living in these blind spots.
The Speaker raised an alarm regarding the historical trend of low voter turnout in Nigeria.
He revealed that despite having a massive number of registered voters, only 12% to 15% of them actually participate in elections every four years.
Abbas warned that introducing an exclusively electronic system in a country with unstable power and internet would likely drive participation to its lowest levels in history.
"It is sad to say that even with the manual arrangement, we are only able to capture a fraction of registered voters," he stated, adding that the hybrid wisdom of combining manual and electronic systems is the only way to ensure every part of the country is captured.
Beyond internet connectivity, the Speaker pointed to the nation’s ongoing energy crisis as a major hurdle for real-time electronic transmission.
He questioned how the entire country could be expected to power phones and digital devices on election day when electricity remains inconsistent.
Abbas dismissed criticisms from the opposition, asserting that they are well aware of these logistical realities as they travel across the country themselves.
Despite these challenges, Abbas assured the international community that the 2027 elections would be more transparent, accommodating, and inclusive.
He noted that following discussions with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, he is confident in the new plans being implemented to move Nigeria's democracy forward.
On his part, Ambassador Costales revealed that Spain also utilizes manual transmission for its election results, offering his country's support and technical advice to help strengthen Nigeria's legislative and democratic processes.