Democracy
A former Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Akin Osuntokun, has criticised the Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission of election results, describing it as a major setback for Nigeria’s democratic growth.
Democracy in Nigeria
Osuntokun said, “It does not portend good for the growth of democracy in Nigeria. Anything that makes elections less accountable makes the election less credible.”The former managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria argued that the rejection of electronic transmission compromises electoral transparency and weakens accountability in the system.
Integrity of elections
“The growth of democracy is rooted in accountability and the integrity of elections. So far as the elections that are conducted on that basis will not meet the bar of credible election, it becomes an obstruction to democratic consolidation,” he said.
He described the decision as suspicious, suggesting that it may be a deliberate attempt to leave room for electoral manipulation.
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Contrive avenues
“The logical interpretation of what they have done is that they want to contrive avenues where the elections can be manipulated,” he said. Osuntokun further faulted the Senate’s justification for rejecting the amendment, saying there is no credible explanation for the decision.
Susceptible to manual interference
What is the explanation? There is no tenable explanation for what they have done. Using e-transmission makes the election or the counting of votes less susceptible to manual interference. What we have been told is that any intervention that will make the election less amenable to manipulation, they do not want it,” he added.
Increased vigilance
While expressing concern over public distrust in the process, Osuntokun said the Senate’s action may not lead to voter apathy, but rather increased vigilance at polling units.What people will do when they go to vote is to physically remain there. They will show as much as possible that the votes that are counted are votes that were duly cast,” he said.
He, however, warned that such distrust could lead to heightened tensions at collation centres.
Foster indignation and more aggressive
He cautioned, “If voters have this kind of mentality and distrust that the system is being deliberately manipulated, it will provoke anger, C at the collation level.It may not affect turnout, but it could foster indignation and more aggressive participation to ensure that their vote counts.
Proposed amendment
The Senate on Wednesday passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 after the third reading, but rejected a proposed amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, which sought to make electronic transmission of results mandatory.
Lawmakers opposing the proposal cited technical and logistical limitations, especially concerning nationwide implementation, as reasons for their position.