Evangelist Isemevwodan Maria Oisamoje, a senatorial aspirant under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has intensified calls for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s electoral framework, urging the National Assembly to adopt mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results.
Her position follows the recent amendment of the Electoral Act by the Senate, which permits electronic transmission of results but retains manual submission as a fallback option in the event of technical failure. Lawmakers have defended the dual approach as a safeguard against disruptions caused by network or system challenges, stressing that the reform is intended to enhance transparency, speed, and credibility in elections.
Under the Senate’s version of the amendment, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is mandated to develop strict operational guidelines and security protocols to prevent tampering, hacking, and transmission errors.
The commission would oversee the implementation of electronic transmission while ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.
However, Oisamoje described the amendment as inadequate, warning that provisions allowing a return to manual transfer of results could undermine the very transparency the reform seeks to achieve.
Specifically, she cautioned that Section 60(3) of the Senate’s version, which permits manual transmission when technology fails, “opens a window for electoral fraud.”
According to her, individuals or groups with intentions to manipulate election outcomes could deliberately exploit the provision by causing or fabricating network failures in order to revert to what she termed the “untrustworthy manual transfer process.”
She argued that concerns about internet connectivity in rural communities should no longer be used to justify retaining manual alternatives. “Which village in this country can you not send money to electronically?” she asked, pointing to the widespread success of digital banking and financial inclusion across Nigeria.
“If financial inclusion works nationwide, then real-time electronic transmission of election results can also work.”
Oisamoje further noted that internet connectivity across Nigeria has steadily improved and maintained that any remaining coverage gaps can be addressed before the 2027 general elections. She added that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is capable of recording exact time stamps when results are uploaded, even in the absence of network connectivity, and automatically transmitting them to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) once service is restored.
“This proves that results were uploaded in real-time, even if they were not transmitted immediately,” she said, arguing that the technology already exists to guarantee transparency without reverting to manual processes.
She therefore urged members of the National Assembly to “carefully consider the demands of Nigerians and put the country before political expediency,” calling on them to adopt the House of Representatives’ version of the bill, which mandates real-time electronic transmission and minimizes human interference.
“Nigerians support it, and INEC has already adopted and significantly deployed it for the 2023 general elections,” she said. “What Nigerians are asking for is not new.”
With the 2027 general elections drawing closer, the ADC aspirant emphasized the urgency of passing both the Electoral Act amendment bill and related constitutional amendments in good time to ensure smooth implementation.
She warned that delays or diluted provisions could constrain timelines and ultimately weaken the impact of the reforms.
Meanwhile, the Senate has constituted a 12-member committee to harmonize its position with that of the House of Representatives on the Electoral Amendment Act. The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, announced the committee during an emergency plenary session.
The committee is chaired by Simon Lalong and includes Orji Uzor Kalu, Tahir Mungono, Adamu Aliero, Abba Moro, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Aminu Iya Abbas, Tokunbo Abiru, Niyi Adegbonmire, Jibrin Isah, Ipalibo Banigo, and Onyekachi Nwebonyi.
The committee’s assignment has generated widespread public debate, as stakeholders continue to deliberate on the best approach to modernizing Nigeria’s electoral system while safeguarding its credibility.
By Evangelist Isemevwodan Maria Oisamoje, ADC Senatorial Aspirant, Edo North, Edo State
