A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has strongly criticised the Senate over its decision to approve a hybrid system of manual and electronic transmission of election results, describing the move as deceptive and dangerous to electoral credibility.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, Okonkwo reacted to the Senate’s emergency plenary where lawmakers amended Section 60 of the Electoral Act to permit presiding officers at polling units to electronically transmit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Results Viewing Portal (IREV), while allowing manual transmission in areas without mobile network coverage.
According to him, the amendment undermines public expectations for transparent elections and merely legitimizes past electoral flaws. He argued that the fallback to manual transmission opens the door to manipulation, citing experiences from previous elections.
“What happened today in the Senate amounts to treachery and deceit,” Okonkwo said, alleging that the provision for manual transmission mirrors what played out during the 2023 general elections. He maintained that the only credible option is the unconditional electronic transmission of results directly from polling units.
Okonkwo added that there should be no room for what he described as “electronic collation” of results, insisting that once votes are counted, results must be transmitted electronically without exceptions.
Recall that ENigeria Newspaper had earlier reported that the Senate’s action over its earlier rejection of electronic transmission had drawn widespread public backlash criticism from civil society groups, opposition figures and election observers.
The amendment has since reignited debate over Nigeria’s electoral framework, with stakeholders divided over whether the hybrid approach strengthens or weakens the integrity of future elections.
