Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned the Nigerian Senate’s decision to reject the proposal for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results. He described the move as a grave setback for Nigeria’s democracy, warning that it undermines transparency, credibility, and public confidence in the electoral process. Atiku Abubakar argued that the decision contradicts the yearnings of millions of Nigerians who desire free, fair, and technologically driven elections.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections expressed his position in a statement released on Tuesday, insisting that electronic transmission remains the most reliable safeguard against manipulation of results. According to him, Nigeria cannot continue to operate an analogue electoral system in a digital age while expecting credible outcomes.
“A Betrayal of Democratic Progress”
Atiku Abubakar described the Senate’s action as a direct affront to democratic progress, noting that previous elections had exposed the weaknesses of manual result collation. He maintained that electronic transmission had been successfully tested by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and should be strengthened rather than discarded. The former vice president warned that rejecting the reform would further deepen voter apathy and distrust in public institutions.
He added that many African countries with fewer resources have adopted technology to improve their elections, questioning why Nigeria should move in the opposite direction. “Democracy thrives on transparency,” he said, stressing that any attempt to weaken electoral accountability amounts to a betrayal of the people’s will.
Concerns Over Electoral Integrity
Political analysts have also expressed worry that the Senate’s decision could create opportunities for manipulation during future elections. Civil society groups monitoring electoral reforms argue that real-time transmission is one of the few innovations that helped to reduce cases of result alteration in recent polls. They insist that abandoning it may return the country to an era of ballot snatching and figure doctoring.
Atiku Abubakar echoed these concerns, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and defend their democratic rights. He called on the National Assembly to reconsider the decision and align with global best practices. According to him, credible elections are the foundation of national stability and economic development.
Calls for Public Resistance and Advocacy
The former vice president Atiku Abubakar urged citizens, political parties, and advocacy groups to intensify pressure on lawmakers to reverse the decision. He emphasized that democracy belongs to the people, not a select political elite. “No institution should be allowed to mortgage the future of our elections for narrow interests,” his statement read.
He further appealed to INEC to continue pushing for technological reforms and resist any attempt to weaken its operational independence. Atiku Abubakar insisted that the struggle for electoral transparency is not partisan but a national duty that concerns every Nigerian voter.
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