Electoral Act: Atiku Faults Senate for Rejecting Real-Time Transmission of Election Results

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted the Nigerian Senate for rejecting the real-time electronic transmission of election results, describing the decision as a deliberate assault on electoral transparency.

In a statement issued on Wednesday night, Atiku said the Senate’s action marked a serious setback for electoral reforms and further eroded public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.

“At a time when democracies across the world are modernising their electoral systems through digital technology, the Nigerian Senate has opted to maintain opacity and protect loopholes that allow manipulation and post-election disputes,” he said.

Atiku warned that the decision continues to uphold a system that has historically enabled the manipulation of election results.

“Every reform that strengthens transparency is resisted, while every ambiguity that benefits incumbency is preserved,” he added.

He stressed that real-time electronic transmission is not a partisan demand but a vital democratic safeguard.

“It reduces human interference, limits result manipulation, and ensures that the will of the voter expressed at the polling unit is faithfully reflected in the final outcome,” Atiku said.

The former vice president also criticised the retention of the 2022 provisions on electronic transmission, describing them as inadequate and reflective of an unwillingness to make elections fully transparent.

He further raised concerns about the political establishment’s intentions as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections.

Calling on Nigerians, civil society groups, the media and the international community to remain vigilant, Atiku urged sustained efforts to revitalise Nigeria’s electoral system and align it with global democratic standards.