APC Chieftain Abiodun Ajiboye Raises Infrastructure Concerns Over Real-Time Result Transmission

APC chieftain Abiodun Ajiboye has expressed strong reservations about Nigeria’s preparedness for real-time electronic transmission of election results, warning that the country currently lacks the technical, financial, and infrastructural capacity to support such a system. Speaking during a televised interview on Arise TV on Monday, February 9, Ajiboye argued that the push for real-time result transmission does not align with the realities of Nigeria’s existing electoral process.

According to Abiodun Ajiboye, Nigeria still conducts elections largely through manual voting and physical collation, making real-time electronic transmission impractical. He explained that electronic transmission is typically tied to electronic voting systems, which Nigeria has not yet adopted. “If you vote manually and collate results manually, how do you then transmit results electronically in real time?” he asked, describing the idea as conceptually flawed and operationally unrealistic.

Abiodun Ajiboye further emphasized the cost implications of deploying a nationwide real-time transmission system, stating that Nigeria simply cannot afford it at this stage. He noted that beyond political will, the financial burden of building, maintaining, and securing such a system would be enormous, especially in a country already grappling with economic pressures and competing national priorities.

Infrastructure and Security Challenges Undermine Real-Time Result Transmission

Abiodun Ajiboye also questioned whether Nigeria’s telecommunications and power infrastructure can support real-time election result transmission. He raised concerns about inconsistent network coverage, poor internet penetration, and unreliable electricity supply, particularly in rural and remote communities where elections must still be conducted fairly and inclusively.

“Do we have enough electricity? Do telecom operators have the capacity to carry out this responsibility across the country?” Ajiboye asked. He warned that attempting to implement a system dependent on stable power and strong network connectivity could disenfranchise millions of voters in areas without reliable infrastructure, thereby undermining the credibility of elections rather than strengthening them.

In addition to infrastructure gaps, Ajiboye highlighted serious cybersecurity risks associated with electronic transmission of election results. He recalled that during the last general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reportedly faced over one million cyber-attacks on its servers. According to him, exposing the electoral process to digital hijacking could lead to confusion, manipulation, and widespread mistrust in election outcomes.

Ajiboye Defends Manual Processes and Urges Caution in Electoral Reforms

Despite acknowledging the global trend toward digital elections, Abiodun Ajiboye defended the continued relevance of manual voting and result collation in Nigeria’s electoral system. He noted that manual processes allow for transparency at the polling unit level, where votes are counted openly and party agents append their signatures to result sheets before any form of transmission occurs.

Abiodun Ajiboye explained that while results can be scanned and transmitted after physical documentation, this should not be confused with real-time electronic transmission. He stressed that Nigeria must first strengthen its foundational systems before attempting advanced electoral technologies. “There are manual parts of the election that are critical and cannot simply be wished away,” he said.

Abiodun Ajiboye urged lawmakers and electoral reform advocates to avoid rushing into complex systems that Nigeria is not technologically ready to manage. He warned that copying foreign models without adapting them to local realities could lead to chaos rather than credible elections. According to him, even countries like the United States do not practice real-time result transmission, and Nigeria must prioritize stability, inclusiveness, and trust over experimentation in its electoral process.