Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has sharply criticised the Nigerian Senate over its decision to remove the clause mandating electronic transmission of election results from the amended Electoral Act, calling the move a major setback for credible elections in Nigeria.
Speaking on Monday during an interview with Trust TV, El-Rufai said he would have personally joined the protest at the National Assembly led by opposition figures, including Labour Party leader Peter Obi, if he had been in the country.
The demonstration was organised in response to growing concerns that excluding electronic transmission could compromise transparency and undermine public trust in future elections.
El-Rufai faulted the Senate for frustrating a provision already approved by the House of Representatives.
According to him, electronic transmission of results from polling units is essential for improving the credibility of elections, as it provides a direct and verifiable way to track votes in real time.
“It is unfortunate I have not been able to return to Nigeria. I would have joined Mr Peter Obi and other party leaders in protesting to the National Assembly to restore the real-time and mandatory transmission of results from the polling unit,” he said.
The former governor explained that most electoral malpractice in Nigeria does not occur at polling units but during the collation of results at central locations.
He stressed that the only way to effectively prevent manipulation is to transmit results electronically immediately after votes are cast.
“Rigging does not take place in polling units; it is in the collation centres. Electronic transmission is the only way to stop the manipulation that occurs there,” El-Rufai stated.
Despite approval by the House of Representatives, the Senate’s continuous stalling of the provision has been a source of frustration for opposition parties and civil society organisations.
El-Rufai emphasised that implementing electronic transmission would significantly improve the quality of elections and reduce public skepticism regarding the integrity of the process.
The former governor also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the current administration of President Bola Tinubu of opposing electronic transmission for political reasons.
According to him, the government fears that allowing real-time transmission would limit its ability to manipulate election outcomes after voting.
“We all know why the ruling party and the sitting government don’t want that. They understand that the only way they can maintain an advantage is by influencing results post-voting,” he added.
The protest at the National Assembly was organised against the backdrop of mounting concerns among opposition leaders and civil society groups about the potential erosion of transparency in the electoral process.
Peter Obi, along with other opposition figures, argued that the exclusion of electronic transmission from the new Electoral Act could create loopholes for rigging and reduce public confidence in elections nationwide.
Experts in election monitoring have long supported electronic transmission as a crucial reform.
They argue that the system makes it almost impossible for results to be tampered with at collation centres, ensuring that the will of voters is accurately reflected.
In countries where similar measures have been implemented, there has been a marked increase in voter confidence and a reduction in electoral disputes.
El-Rufai further warned that delaying the implementation of electronic transmission not only threatens the integrity of elections but also undermines efforts to strengthen democratic institutions in Nigeria.
He called on the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, to reconsider its stance and prioritize the interests of Nigerian voters over political expediency.
Ireport247news
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