By Okoroafor Uchechukwu
The Nigerian Senate’s recent decision to reject the electronic transmission of election results ahead of the 2027 general elections ranks among the most unpopular and unsettling political decisions in recent times.
Across the country, this single move has ignited intense debate, deep suspicion, and renewed fear about the possibility of conducting free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria.
For a nation that has repeatedly pledged commitment to democratic consolidation, this decision sends a troubling signal. It raises a fundamental question that millions of Nigerians are now asking openly: Is the political class genuinely interested in credible elections, or merely in retaining power by any means necessary?
The excuses advanced to justify this decision simply do not hold water.
Claims about poor network coverage are not only weak but insulting to the intelligence of Nigerians. If network reliability is truly the concern, then the responsibility lies squarely with the government to compel service providers to improve their services.
Telecommunications companies operate under licenses granted by the Nigerian state; failure to meet national needs, especially during a critical democratic exercise, should attract serious sanctions, including license reviews.
Alternatively, a dedicated and secured network can be deployed specifically for election periods. Solutions exist; what appears lacking is political will.
Nigeria cannot, and must not, abandon the massive investments already made in election technology. Billions of naira have been spent procuring BVAS machines, servers, data centers, and other digital infrastructure designed to guide, monitor, and transmit election results.
To suddenly discard electronic transmission is to waste public resources and deliberately weaken safeguards against manipulation. No responsible nation dismantles systems that promote transparency simply because they inconvenience vested interests.
Even more alarming is the global context. While other democracies are strengthening electronic voting systems, improving cybersecurity, and increasing transparency, Nigeria appears determined to move backwards. Progress is not optional in the modern world; it is a necessity. Democracies either evolve or erode.
Closer to home, the hypocrisy is glaring. The Nigerian Bar Association, an institution known for its strict adherence to due process, successfully conducts its elections electronically. If lawyers, who thrive on scrutiny and objections, trust electronic voting, why should a nation of over 200 million people be denied the same advancement?
Every day, Nigerians withdraw money from ATMs and POS terminals across the country and receive cash almost instantly. These transactions rely on secure networks, biometric verification, and encrypted data. If we can trust technology with our money, our bank accounts, and our identities, why can we not trust it with our votes, the very foundation of our democracy?
The truth is uncomfortable but unavoidable: rejecting electronic transmission of results creates fertile ground for electoral manipulation. Manual collation has historically been the weakest link in Nigeria’s electoral process, where results are altered, figures inflated, and the will of the people subverted. Nigerians have seen this movie before, and they are refusing to watch it again.
Let us be clear: peace in Nigeria is directly linked to electoral credibility. A flawed 2027 election will not only deepen mistrust but may push the country into avoidable instability. Nigerians are not asking for miracles; they are demanding fairness, transparency, and respect for their votes.
We must not be deceived. Any attempt to undermine electronic voting in 2027 is not about logistics, it is about control. And Nigerians, across party lines, ethnic groups, and regions, are saying loudly: enough is enough.
For democracy to survive in Nigeria, the 2027 elections must be conducted with full electronic accreditation, voting safeguards, and real-time transmission of results. Anything short of this is unacceptable.
History will remember where everyone stood.
