Ezekwesili Urges Necessary Real-Time Transmission of Election Results, Faults Senate’s Stance

Introduction

In the persistent quest for credible and transparent elections in Nigeria, former Minister of Education and governance expert Dr. Oby Ezekwesili has reignited the debate on the mandatory real-time digital transmission of polling unit results. Her recent public statement underscores a critical gap in Nigeria’s electoral integrity: the lack of a legal requirement for immediate electronic result uploads, which she argues is essential to prevent manipulation and enhance public trust. With Nigeria’s electoral history marred by allegations of result tampering and delayed announcements, the call for real-time transmission is not merely a technical upgrade but a democratic imperative. This article delves into Ezekwesili’s stance, the background of electoral reforms, the proven success of electronic transmission in past elections, and the contentious positions of the National Assembly. It also provides practical guidance for citizens and addresses common questions, all aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of why this issue is pivotal for Nigeria’s democratic future.

Key Points

Background

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous democracy, has long struggled with electoral credibility. From the First Republic to the present, elections have often been plagued by vote rigging, violence, and lack of transparency. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has introduced various reforms to address these issues, with technology playing a central role. The journey toward electronic result transmission began in earnest with the 2021 Anambra State governorship election, which became the first to deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and online result transmission. This was followed by the 2022 Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, where results were uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in near real-time, allowing media and observers to track results throughout the day.

Electoral Reform in Nigeria

The Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) marked a significant step forward, incorporating provisions for electronic voting and result transmission. However, the law left some discretion to INEC regarding the mandatory nature of real-time uploads. In the ongoing review of the Electoral Act, the Senate and House of Representatives have taken divergent approaches. The Senate’s version reportedly removes any explicit mandate, leaving the decision to INEC’s internal regulations. Conversely, the House passed a bill with Clause 60(3) stating: “INEC shall electronically transmit election results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal in real time and such transmission shall be done simultaneously with the physical collation of results.” This clause would make real-time uploads a legal obligation, not an option.

Technology in Nigerian Elections

The IReV portal was launched to provide public access to election results. It allows any citizen to view results as they are uploaded from polling units. BVAS, introduced in 2021, not only accredits voters but also captures results and transmits them electronically. In Anambra 2021, the combination of BVAS and real-time transmission was praised by local and international observers as a milestone for credibility. Similarly, in Ekiti and Osun 2022, the near-instant upload of results reduced the “room