Senate’s Rejection Of Real-Time Result Transmission Sparks Fresh Fears Over 2027 Polls
When the rules of an election are weakened, public trust is often the first casualty.
A civil society group, the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), has strongly condemned the Senate’s decision to reject real-time electronic transmission of election results, warning that the move undermines Nigeria’s democratic credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On Wednesday, 4 February 2026, the Senate voted to retain the ambiguous provision in Clause 60 of the 2022 Electoral Act, leaving the mode of result transmission entirely at the discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
CHRICED described the decision as a backward step that weakens transparency at a time when public confidence in the electoral process remains fragile.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the group said the rejection effectively entrenches manual collation, a process widely criticised for delays, interference and manipulation.
CHRICED warned that while voting takes place at polling units, “rigging often happens in the shadows of collation centres”, where multiple layers of human handling create room for abuse.
The organisation dismissed concerns about network coverage and cybersecurity as unconvincing, arguing that Nigeria already conducts digital banking and financial transactions in real time across the country.
According to CHRICED, the resistance to electronic transmission reflects political interests benefiting from opacity rather than genuine technical constraints.
The group noted that many democracies, including Brazil, India, the United States and several European countries, as well as African nations such as Kenya, Ghana and South Africa, have adopted electronic mechanisms to improve transparency and trust in elections.
It warned that Nigeria’s decision to move in the opposite direction risks deepening voter apathy and post-election disputes.
CHRICED called on Nigerians, especially youths, civil society groups, labour unions, professional bodies and religious leaders, to apply lawful and sustained civic pressure on the National Assembly to reverse what it described as a regressive decision.
It also urged renewed public engagement, media mobilisation and advocacy for electoral transparency.
The statement was signed by CHRICED’s Executive Director, Comrade Dr Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, who stressed that credible elections are not a privilege granted by politicians but a right that citizens must defend.
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