Senate’s rejection of real-time result transmission assault on electoral transparency – Atiku

Former Vice-President Abubakar Atiku on Thursday described the Senate’s rejection of real-time electronic transmission of election results as a deliberate assault on Nigeria’s electoral transparency.

Atiku, in a statement posted on his verified X handle on Thursday, said the move represented a grave setback to reform and undermined transparency, credibility and public trust.

He argued that while democracies worldwide strengthened elections with technology, the Nigeria Senate clings to opacity, preserving loopholes that historically enabled manipulation and disputes.

According to him, real-time transmission is not partisan, but a democratic safeguard that reduces interference, limits manipulation and ensures voters’ choices.

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The former Vice President warned that rejecting electrical transmission of results, while adopting face-saving provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act signalled reluctance to submit elections to genuine public scrutiny and accountability.

The decision, Atiku said, raised troubling questions about the ruling establishment’s commitment to conducting free, fair and credible elections, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He stressed that Nigerians observe a pattern where reforms promote transparency and face resistance.

He reiterated that democracy must evolve with technology, adding that elections should reflect voters’ will, not manual delays, backroom alterations, procedural excuses or court alone.

“Nigeria deserves transparent, verifiable elections beyond manipulation. Anything less constitutes injustice to voters and a betrayal of democracy,” he stated.