A coalition of leading Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has intensified calls for sweeping reforms to Nigeria’s electoral framework, urging the National Assembly to make electronic transmission of election results compulsory in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.
The groups argue that anything less than a mandatory provision would seriously weaken public trust and jeopardise the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
The call was made in a joint statement issued on Monday, February 9, 2026, by a broad alliance of democracy and governance advocacy groups.
Among them are the Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBAG), the Centre for Credible Elections (CCE), and other civil rights organisations committed to electoral integrity and accountability.
The statement followed reports that some lawmakers are pushing to make result transmission optional, a move the coalition described as dangerous and regressive.
According to the CSOs, Nigeria stands at a critical crossroads where decisions taken now will determine whether future elections reflect the genuine will of the people or continue to be clouded by suspicion and controversy.
They warned that removing the mandatory status of electronic transmission would open the door to manipulation, delay, and interference—challenges that have historically undermined confidence in electoral outcomes.
The coalition’s statement, signed by Toyin Raheem of CACOBAG, Idowu Taiwo of the Centre for Convention on Human Rights (CCHR), Olutola Folorunsho of the Centre for Public Development (CPD), and Prince Segun Osarieme of the CCE, directly criticised the leadership of the National Assembly.
Particular attention was placed on Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom the groups accused of presiding over legislative efforts that place political self-interest above democratic progress.
They described the reported attempt to weaken the Electoral Act amendment as not only troubling but also inconsistent with Nigeria’s stated commitment to democratic reform.
According to the coalition, lawmakers who resist modern electoral safeguards are effectively shielding a system that benefits from opacity rather than transparency.
Addressing claims that Nigeria lacks the technical capacity to sustain real-time result transmission, the CSOs dismissed such arguments as outdated and misleading.
They pointed to the widespread use of digital platforms across the country, including banking services and Point of Sale (POS) systems, which operate even in rural and hard-to-reach communities.
These realities, they argued, demonstrate that electronic transmission is both feasible and practical.
The coalition further countered fears of cyber interference, noting that while no digital system is entirely immune to risk, the advantages far outweigh the concerns.
Nigerians, they observed, continue to trust online banking platforms despite similar vulnerabilities. In contrast, manual result collation has proven far more susceptible to abuse, intimidation, and outright falsification.
In strong language, the CSOs argued that the greatest threat to election credibility does not come from technology but from deliberate human interference.
They cited past instances where results were altered in unofficial locations, sometimes under coercion or violence, long after votes had been cast.
In their view, electronic transmission would significantly reduce such practices by ensuring that results are instantly uploaded, publicly accessible, and difficult to alter without detection.
Beyond criticism, the coalition outlined a series of concrete demands aimed at strengthening election results transparency.
Chief among them is the insistence that the amended Electoral Act must clearly state that any election where results are not transmitted electronically immediately after counting should be declared invalid.
They also called on constituents to initiate recall processes against lawmakers who support optional transmission, arguing that such positions contradict the public interest.
The CSOs announced their readiness to align with civic movements such as the “Occupy National Assembly” campaign, signalling a willingness to apply sustained pressure until meaningful reforms are achieved.
They stressed that the 2027 general elections must not be reduced to a procedural exercise but should reflect the true democratic choice of Nigerians.
Ireport247news
