Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has called for the mandatory inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act, saying the move could save countless lives during elections.
Amaechi joined protesters on Tuesday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, demanding that the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act explicitly require the Independent National Electoral Commission to transmit results electronically in real time from polling units.
“The advantage is that very few persons will die on the election field. Very few Nigerians. You are saving the lives of Nigerians,” Amaechi told the crowd, warning that every election season sees citizens killed in large numbers while officials shield themselves behind security forces.
Amaechi’s participation came amid heated debates over the 2027 Electoral Act amendment, particularly whether electronic transmission should be mandatory or discretionary. Civil society groups, youth organisations, and concerned citizens staged a sit-in protest, carrying mattresses and pillows, symbolically declaring they would not leave until lawmakers met their demands.
“If you think they won’t rig, you’re wasting time. To stop them from rigging, we must come out in large numbers. We must mobilise to march police for police. When they see the number of people who have come out, they will join,” Amaechi said.
The former governor expressed frustration with what he described as indifference from government authorities. “The problem is not even Ribadu. Even the president doesn’t think the citizens matter,” he said, referencing previous election-related violence. “The only way to save Nigerians from electoral violence is to allow transmission, re-transmission.”
Amaechi also drew on international law, warning against excessive use of force on voters. “There is a number you are not allowed to kill. Whoever gave that instruction must account for it. Tinubu won’t travel out of this country after his presidency if those people are killed,” he said.
The former minister’s intervention follows similar calls by former presidential candidate Peter Obi, who also joined protesters demanding electoral transparency. Many Nigerians have called on lawmakers to make real-time electronic transmission compulsory, arguing that INEC should not have discretion over the process.
“Further developments will be communicated as investigation progresses,” Amaechi said, urging citizens to mobilise across the country. “If there are 300,000 policemen, bring out 600,000 Nigerians. We must wake up. We must mobilise much, much more.”
The protest has drawn attention to ongoing tensions over the Electoral Act amendment. While some legislators argue that electronic transmission should remain discretionary due to logistical challenges, protesters insist that only an explicit legal requirement can prevent manipulation and ensure credible elections.
The debate over electronic transmission of results has been a recurring issue in Nigeria’s electoral reform efforts. During the amendment of the Electoral Act in 2021, the provision for mandatory electronic transmission was removed after intense political debate, with critics arguing that technical and infrastructural challenges in some parts of the country made it impractical.
INEC has the technical capacity to transmit results electronically through its INEC Result Viewing Portal, which was deployed during the 2023 general elections. However, the commission has faced criticism over instances where results were uploaded late or not at all, fueling allegations of manipulation.
The current amendment process has reignited the controversy, with civil society groups and opposition figures pushing for a clear legal mandate that would compel INEC to transmit results electronically in real time, removing any discretion that could be exploited.
Supporters of mandatory electronic transmission argue that it would enhance transparency, reduce opportunities for manipulation, and restore public confidence in the electoral process. They point to instances of violence and fatalities during past elections, often linked to disputes over results that were manually collated and announced hours or days after voting.
Opponents, however, maintain that Nigeria’s infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, may not support real-time transmission in all polling units, and that making it mandatory could disenfranchise voters in areas with poor network coverage.
Amaechi’s reference to election-related violence resonates with many Nigerians who have witnessed or experienced bloodshed during electoral contests. The 2023 general elections, like previous cycles, recorded incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and clashes between political thugs and security operatives in several states.
His call for mass mobilisation also reflects growing frustration among citizens who feel disconnected from governance and decision-making processes. The protest at the National Assembly, with demonstrators bringing mattresses and camping equipment, underscores the determination of activists to pressure lawmakers into adopting what they consider essential reforms.
