Former Chairman, of the Inter-Party Advisor Council, IPAC, Chief Peter Ameh, has described the Senate’s rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of polling unit results as a major setback for Nigeria’s democracy.
This is contained in a statement signed by him in Abuja.
The statement says the recent passage of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026, with only minor changes, fails to address the core reforms needed to ensure credible elections.
It emphasizes that by rejecting real-time electronic uploads to the INEC Result Viewing portal, the Senate has preserved vulnerabilities that allow result manipulation and undermine public trust.
The statement notes that continued reliance on physical PVCs and discretionary transmission clauses exposes the system to interference and coercion.
It warns that the decision sends a discouraging message to Nigeria’s youth—the demographic most capable of revitalizing democracy.
“Young voters see no incentive to participate when the process can still be manipulated,” he states.
According to the statement, Chief Ameh urges lawmakers to prioritize transparency over political expediency stressing that civil society groups and election monitors were asking only for basic technological safeguards to protect votes.
“The Senate’s refusal to implement it risks perpetuating electoral fraud, litigation, and voter apathy”
The statement emphasizes that until mandatory electronic transmission and other transparency measures are adopted, electoral laws will remain largely symbolic, offering no real protection for the people’s mandate.
“Nigeria needs bold reforms that safeguard every vote and inspire citizen participation” Chief Ameh adds
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