Major opposition political parties have criticised the Senate’s rejection of a mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units, warning that the move poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s democratic progress.
In a joint statement by the aggrieved parties, which are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) described the Senate’s action as retrogressive, anti-people and capable of setting the country’s democracy back.
The parties reacted to the passage of an amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 by the Senate, which, among other provisions, declined to make the electronic transmission of results compulsory at polling units.
According to the opposition parties, the decision has rightly attracted widespread condemnation from Nigerians across political, ethnic and religious divides, as it undermines transparency and credibility in the electoral process.
They expressed surprise that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which controls the Senate, would oppose the use of technology in elections while simultaneously deploying digital tools to conduct nationwide electronic registration of its members.
“We are at a loss as to why a party that freely deploys technology to organise its internal affairs would be averse to using the same technology to transmit election results,” the statement said.
The parties alleged that the rejection of electronic transmission was a calculated attempt by the APC to preserve loopholes for manipulating elections, noting that the ruling party is aware of growing public discontent and the electoral rejection it faces in future polls.
“They know Nigerians are fed up with them. A free and fair election has therefore become a threat, hence the desperation to protect any gaps that could be exploited to their advantage,” the statement added.
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The opposition leaders also accused senators of failing to rise above partisan interests in defence of democracy, describing the legislature as the most important symbol of democratic governance.
“Regardless of party affiliation, we expected senators to act as patriots and statesmen. Once again, they have failed the people they were elected to represent,” they said.
The statement recalled that during post-election litigations arising from the last general election, courts — including the Supreme Court — repeatedly held that electronic transmission of results was not mandatory under the Electoral Act 2022, exposing a critical legislative gap that required urgent correction.
Beyond addressing judicial concerns, the parties argued that mandatory electronic transmission would significantly enhance transparency, restore public trust and deepen democratic consolidation.
“With this rejection, the Senate has effectively returned Nigeria to square one,” the statement noted.
The opposition parties urged members of the conference committee to harmonise the Electoral Act amendment to adopt the position of the House of Representatives, which supports mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results.
They appealed to lawmakers to act in the national interest, warning against prioritising short-term political calculations over the future of democracy.
“The ball is now in the court of the conference committee. We urge its members to act as statesmen, not politicians fixated on the next election, and to forestall the dangers of imposing anti-democratic laws on Nigerians,” the statement said.
The statement was jointly signed by Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP; Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC; and Bamofin Ladipo Johnson, National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, and dated February 5, 2026.
