By Ayodele Oni
Nigerians have continued to raise their voices against the refusal of the Senate to disallow mandatory electronic transmission of results during elections in the new Electoral law.
In his reaction, a Jos-based civil society member, Jacob Pwakim, condemned the Senate’s decision to reject mandatory electronic transmission of election results, calling it a “political shamelessness” and an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
Pwakim, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of YIAVHA and the immediate past President of Plateau Peace Practitioners Network (PPPN), shared his position through his verified Facebook page on Thursday.
In a statement, Pwakim stated that the Senate’s refusal to adopt clear, compulsory electronic transmission provisions in the Electoral Act 2022, is a deliberate move to weaken electoral transparency.
According to him, “Electronic transmission of results is a basic democratic safeguard against result alteration between polling units and collation centres,” he said, adding that the Senate’s choice to retain vague discretionary language is a “quest to sustain electoral anarchy.”
He warned that the rejection reflected a lack of accountability to constituents and a fear of credible elections.
He urged President Bola Tinubu not to assent to the bill in its current form, urging the President to return it to the National Assembly to demonstrate a commitment to Nigerians’ demand for transparent elections.
“Anything less will raise a legitimate question: who is actually unsure of winning fairly in 2027?” he added.
The statement adds to growing criticism from civil society groups and opposition parties, who have long pushed for electronic transmission of results to curb rigging and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The Senate’s decision is expected to face further scrutiny as the 2027 general elections approach, with calls for reforms to ensure free and fair polls.
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