The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Party (ADC), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have jointly criticised the Senate over its decision to reject a proposal mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units.
The opposition parties accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind the Senate decision in order to achieve its alleged plan to rig the 2027 elections, warning that the move could undermine the country’s democratic progress.
In a joint press statement issued on Thursday, the parties expressed deep concern over the Senate’s passage of an amendment to the Electoral Act 2022, which excluded compulsory electronic transmission of results.
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They described the decision as “retrogressive,” arguing that it threatens transparency and credibility in future elections.
The statement, signed by the spokespersons of the PDP, ADC, and the NNPP, said the action by the Senate, dominated by the ruling APC, could set Nigeria’s democracy back “by many decades.”
According to the opposition parties, the Senate’s stance has attracted widespread condemnation from Nigerians across political, ethnic, and religious lines.
They questioned why the APC, which is currently using technology to conduct electronic registration of its members nationwide, would oppose the use of similar technology for transmitting election results.
“We harbour no doubts about the intention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is in firm control of the two chambers of the National Assembly,” the statement read.
“They know Nigerians are fed up with them. They are aware of the rejection that awaits them at the forthcoming polls. A free and fair election has therefore become a threat to them.”
The parties accused the ruling party of seeking to preserve loopholes that could be exploited to manipulate the electoral process, rather than strengthening safeguards for credible elections.
They further expressed disappointment that senators failed to rise above party interests to act in defence of democracy, noting that the legislature remains one of its most important symbols.
“As usual, they failed the people they are supposed to represent,” the statement added.
Recalling recent judicial precedents, the opposition parties noted that courts, including the Supreme Court, had previously ruled that the Electoral Act 2022 did not expressly make electronic transmission of results mandatory, creating a legal gap.
They said this lacuna should have been urgently addressed through legislative amendment to prevent a repeat of past electoral disputes.
Beyond its legal implications, the parties argued that mandatory electronic transmission would enhance transparency, boost public trust in the electoral process, and deepen democratic consolidation.
They warned that the Senate’s rejection of the proposal had effectively returned the country “to square one.”
The opposition parties called on the conference committee of the National Assembly to adopt the position of the House of Representatives, which supports mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results.
They urged committee members to act as statesmen rather than politicians focused solely on upcoming elections.
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“The ball is now in the court of the conference committee,” the statement said, urging lawmakers to align with the will of the Nigerian people and avert the danger of imposing what they described as anti-democratic laws.
[ SAHARA REPORTERS]
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