By SUNTV Global Channel
February 5, 2026
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticised the Nigerian Senate over its decision to reject real-time electronic transmission of election results, warning that the move could seriously undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released on Thursday, Atiku described the Senate’s action as “a deliberate assault on electoral transparency,” arguing that it represents a dangerous reversal of hard-won electoral reforms achieved in recent years.
According to him, the rejection of electronic transmission is not a routine legislative decision but a calculated move that threatens the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process.
“The decision of the Nigerian Senate to reject the real-time electronic transmission of election results is a deliberate assault on electoral transparency,” Atiku stated.
The former presidential candidate said the move sends a troubling signal at a time when democracies around the world are embracing technology to strengthen electoral credibility and minimise post-election disputes.
“While democracies across the world are strengthening their electoral systems through technology, the Nigerian Senate has chosen to cling to opacity, protect loopholes, and preserve a system that has historically enabled manipulation, tampering, and post-election disputes,” he said.
Atiku stressed that electronic transmission of results should not be politicised, insisting that it is a fundamental democratic safeguard designed to protect voters’ mandates.
“Real-time electronic transmission of results is not a partisan demand; it is a democratic safeguard. It reduces human interference, limits result manipulation, and ensures that the will of the voter at the polling unit is faithfully reflected in the final outcome,” he explained.
He further criticised lawmakers for relying on what he described as a “face-saving provision” in the 2022 Electoral Act, arguing that such an approach signals a lack of willingness to submit elections to public scrutiny.
Atiku warned that the Senate’s decision raises serious concerns about the sincerity of the ruling political establishment ahead of the 2027 polls.
“This decision raises troubling questions about the commitment of the ruling political establishment to free, fair, and credible elections in 2027,” he said.
The former Vice President urged Nigerians to observe what he described as a recurring pattern in the country’s electoral reform process, where transparency-enhancing reforms are resisted while ambiguities that favour incumbency are preserved.
Reiterating his long-standing advocacy for electoral reform, Atiku said democracy must evolve with time and technology rather than rely on outdated systems vulnerable to abuse.
He also warned against elections being decided through administrative delays, backroom alterations, or post-election legal battles instead of the clear will of voters at polling units.
Calling on stakeholders at home and abroad, Atiku urged civil society groups, the media, and the international community to closely monitor what he described as a dangerous regression in Nigeria’s electoral framework.
He concluded by stressing that credible elections are essential to the survival of democracy in Nigeria.
“Nigeria deserves elections that are transparent, verifiable, and beyond manipulation. Anything less is an injustice to the electorate and a betrayal of democracy,” he said.
