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Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the Senate for rejecting a proposal that would make the electronic transmission of election results mandatory, describing the move as a grave threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Thursday, the former Anambra State governor said the Senate’s decision amounted to an unforgivable act of electoral manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Senate had on Wednesday voted down an amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill, which sought to compel the electronic transmission of election results.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio later clarified that the lawmakers did not reject electronic transmission outright during deliberations on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill.
Reacting, Obi insisted that the failure to enshrine mandatory electronic transmission in law undermines the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
“This failure to pass a clear safeguard is nothing short of a deliberate assault on Nigeria’s democracy,” Obi said.
“By rejecting these essential transparency measures, they are eroding the very foundation of credible elections.”
He questioned the purpose of governance, asking whether it exists to ensure order and justice or to institutionalise chaos in the interest of a few.
Obi argued that the controversies and disputes that characterised past elections, particularly the 2023 general election, were a direct result of the refusal to fully implement electronic transmission of results, dismissing claims of technical glitches during the last polls as fabricated excuses.
While noting that several African countries have adopted electronic transmission to strengthen their democracies, Obi lamented that Nigeria continues to lag behind despite its self-acclaimed status as Africa’s largest democracy.
He further accused the political elite of deliberately resisting reforms, warning that such actions are dragging the country backwards and entrenching disorder for the benefit of a small clique.
“By rejecting mandatory electronic transmission, a critical safeguard for electoral integrity, we are entrenching confusion and disorder,” he said.
Obi also called for sober reflection on the future of the country, urging leaders to prioritise building a credible and livable nation for future generations rather than perpetuating instability.
Referring to past remarks by foreign leaders who described Nigeria as corrupt, Obi said continued resistance to transparency only reinforces such negative perceptions.
He warned that irregularities witnessed in the 2023 elections must not be repeated in 2027, and further stressed that Nigerians should prepare to legitimately and decisively defend the nation’s democratic process.
Obi also urged the international community to pay close attention, cautioning that the rejection of mandatory electronic transmission could lay the groundwork for future electoral manipulation and further endanger Nigeria’s democracy and development.
