…Says It Stands With Citizens for Transparency, Electoral Modernisation
…As Open Alliance Condemns Senate’s Move to Halt Electronic Transmission, Demands Reversal
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has declared that a clear legislative mandate for the electronic transmission of election results is the demand of Nigerians, vowing to stand with citizens in the push for transparency and modernisation of the country’s electoral system.
The party warned that Nigeria cannot afford a repeat of the credibility challenges that trailed the 2023 general elections, stressing that all stakeholders must work together to safeguard the nation’s democracy ahead of 2027.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP expressed deep concern over what it described as the “unimaginable and unpatriotic resistance” of the leadership of the 10th Senate to positive democratic reforms.
According to the party, the Senate’s alleged attempts during the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act to block a definitive legal provision for real-time electronic transmission of results run contrary to the popular will of Nigerians.
“The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is deeply worried by the deliberate actions of the leadership of the 10th Senate in the ongoing reforms of the Electoral Act, which seek to go against the clearly expressed desire of Nigerians for a definitive legislative mandate allowing real-time transmission of election results,” the statement said.
The party recalled that citizens across the country overwhelmingly supported electoral reforms during the nationwide public hearings conducted by the Senate in 2025 on the proposed Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2026.
It noted that critical tools such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) are essential to improving transparency, reducing human error, and preventing manipulation associated with manual movement of results.
The SDP argued that the majority of senators, alongside the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), are in favour of strengthening electoral integrity, especially given the positive disposition of INEC’s current leadership towards transparent and credible elections.
The party therefore warned that “self-serving cabals” within the Senate leadership must not be allowed to hold Nigeria’s democracy to ransom, insisting that the new Electoral Act must contain an unambiguous legal mandate compelling real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units.
“The INEC has demonstrated that it possesses the infrastructure, technical capacity, and willingness to transmit results electronically in real time, if allowed to carry out its duties without encumbrance,” the SDP added.
Calling for vigilance, the party urged citizens, civil society groups, and pro-democracy advocates to resist any attempts to undermine electoral reforms, stressing that Nigeria must not take retrogressive steps ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Open Alliance Condemns Senate Decision
Meanwhile, Open Alliance, a coalition of civil society organisations, has strongly condemned the decision of the 10th Senate to step down the use of electronic transmission of election results for the 2027 general elections and beyond.
In a statement jointly signed by 13 civil society organisations, the coalition described the move as a major setback to Nigeria’s democratic progress and a threat to years of efforts aimed at strengthening electoral transparency, credibility, and public trust.
“Electronic transmission of results is a critical safeguard against electoral manipulation, result tampering, and post-election disputes,” the statement said. “By limiting or removing this tool, the Senate risks reopening long-standing vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s electoral process that have historically fueled public distrust, litigation, and political instability.”
Open Alliance warned that the decision sends the wrong signal to Nigerians, election observers, and the international community, especially at a time when technology offers proven solutions to enhance electoral integrity.
The coalition stressed that electronic transmission of results is not a partisan issue but a democratic imperative that protects the votes of all Nigerians, regardless of political, ethnic, or religious affiliation.
It therefore called on the Senate to immediately reverse the decision and recommit to reforms that promote free, fair, and credible elections, while also urging lawmakers to engage civil society groups, election experts, and citizens in open consultations.
“Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive when the electoral process is transparent, secure, and trusted by the people. Anything less threatens the foundation of our democratic republic,” the statement concluded.
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