Nigeria electronic transmission can enhance transparency, but experts warn political ethics and enforcement remain crucial for credible elections
Nigeria is once again locked in a familiar debate: whether the credibility of our elections
depends on the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result
Viewing (IREV) portal.
The recent decision by the Senate not to approve such transmission has triggered outrage in some quarters, with technology being presented as the ultimate antidote to electoral malpractice.
This narrative, though well-intentioned, oversimplifies a far more complex reality.
Electronic transmission of results is not, and has never been, a silver bullet against rigging.
Our electoral process remains fundamentally manual.
Results are still recorded by human beings on Form EC8A at polling units before any electronic upload takes place. Where those forms are compromised, altered, or deliberately falsified, electronic transmission merely
accelerates the spread of a flawed outcome.
Recent electoral experiences illustrate this clearly. In the Edo governorship election, results
were uploaded to the IREV portal as required.
Yet public outcry followed, with allegations that several uploaded forms bore signs of alterations and mutilations. Whether these claims are ultimately upheld by the courts is beside the point.
The episode underscores a basic truth: technology can only transmit what it is given. Garbage in, garbage out.
The real challenge confronting Nigeria’s elections is not the absence of technology, but the
persistence of a political culture in which some actors are determined to win at all costs.
As long as this mindset endures, every reform—manual or electronic—will be tested, stretched,
and occasionally subverted. Technology does not eliminate bad faith; it only changes its
expression.
This is why countries with credible elections focus not only on process, but on enforcement.
Severe penalties for electoral fraud, swift prosecution of offenders, institutional
independence, and professional integrity among electoral officials matter as much as, if not
more than, the tools deployed.
That said, dismissing electronic transmission altogether would be equally misguided. While it
cannot by itself guarantee credibility, mandatory electronic transmission does improve
transparency and public confidence.
More importantly, it removes a recurring source of post- election controversy. In a polity as polarized as Nigeria’s, perceptions often matter almost as much as outcomes. Where electronic transmission is absent, it becomes an easy scapegoat for electoral losses—regardless of the actual facts.
For this reason, there is a strong argument that the National Assembly should make electronic
transmission of results mandatory, not because it is foolproof, but because it closes an
avoidable credibility gap.
It fulfils a basic expectation of openness and aligns Nigeria with global best practices, while denying perennial litigants a convenient procedural excuse ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ultimately, Nigeria’s democratic integrity will not be secured by software, portals, or real-
time uploads alone.
It will be secured when political actors accept that elections can be won and lost, when electoral officials act with courage and professionalism, and when violations attract real consequences.
As the country looks toward 2027, the task before us is not to search for perfect systems, but
to reduce avoidable weaknesses.
Mandatory electronic transmission should be adopted not as an act of blind faith in technology, but as a deliberate step to narrow the space for manipulation, suspicion, and post-election acrimony.
Electronic transmission should therefore be seen for what it is: a useful safeguard, not a magic wand.
Democracy thrives not on the illusion of flawless processes, but on the steady tightening of
safeguards and the strengthening of institutions.
Until Nigeria confronts the deeper issues of political ethics, accountability, and enforcement, every reform will remain incomplete—but refusing practical improvements only delays the progress we urgently need.
As Senator Ned Nwoko positions for a return to the National Assembly, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Emmanuel Eboh, has described any opposing ambition as self- serving, unnecessary and detrimental to the peace and development of Delta North Senatorial District.
Speaking in an interview in Abuja, Chief Eboh, a former civil commissioner in Delta State, said Senator Nwoko continues to enjoy widespread goodwill and the support of the people of Delta North, popularly known as Anioma.
While acknowledging that political aspirations are legitimate in a democratic setting, Eboh cautioned against what he termed the “unacceptable drift towards turning politics into a family enterprise and a tool for power control and manipulation.”
He called on residents of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency and the wider Delta North district to resist “the inordinate ambition of some Shylock politicians driven by selfish motives and unrestrained personal interests.”
The APC stalwart warned that personality-driven ambitions, rather than people-oriented leadership, could
lead to avoidable rivalry and division within Delta North.
Chief Eboh maintained that Senator Nwoko’s performance in office has been commendable and deserving of re-election, citing key interventions in rural road construction, electrification, education, potable water supply, and empowerment programmes.
He further highlighted the senator’s sustained advocacy for the recognition and identity of Anioma, noting that it was “unprecedented in the political history of the district”.
According to him, “Senator Nwoko has not only met expectations but surpassed them. He deserves re-election, particularly given the fact that the core constitutional responsibility of a senator is lawmaking for the good governance of the nation.”
Eboh said the people of Delta North regard Nwoko as a progressive leader who embodies unity and dignity across Anioma, stressing that he should not be distracted by unnecessary political contestation.
He reaffirmed that the senator’s commitment to the growth and development of Anioma remains unwavering and urged constituents to sustain their support for his return to the Senate.
The APC chieftain also called for continued backing of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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