Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the Senate’s decision to reject the real-time electronic transmission of election results, saying it undermines transparency and public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.
The Senate, during consideration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, rejected proposals for real-time results transmission and a 10-year ban on vote buyers, choosing instead to retain fines or jail terms. The chamber also maintained provisions for electronic transfer of results as outlined in the Electoral 2022 Act.
In a statement posted on his X page, Abubakar described the move as a “deliberate assault on electoral transparency” and a “grave setback for electoral reform.” He argued that the decision protects loopholes that have historically enabled vote manipulation, tampering, and post-election disputes.
“Real-time electronic transmission is not a partisan demand; it is a safeguard to limit human interference and protect the will of voters,” Abubakar said. He warned that the decision raises serious concerns about the political establishment’s commitment to credible elections in 2027.
The former vice-president called on Nigerians, civil society, the media, and the international community to resist what he described as democratic regression, emphasizing that elections should be transparent, verifiable, and free from manipulation.
“Nigeria deserves elections that are transparent, verifiable, and beyond manipulation. Anything less is an injustice to the electorate and a betrayal of democracy,” he added.
