PDP, ADC, NNPP slam Senate’s rejection of real-time electronic results as retrogressive and anti-democracy

The major opposition parties in Nigeria have expressed strong opposition to the Senate’s recent decision on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, criticizing the rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results as a “retrogressive act” that could undermine the nation’s democracy.

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In a joint statement released on Thursday via the official X (formerly Twitter) accounts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the parties condemned the Senate’s decision to maintain discretionary powers over result transmission instead of making real-time electronic uploads compulsory.

Spokespersons Ini Ememobong (PDP), Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi (ADC), and Bamofin Ladipo Johnson (NNPP) accused the APC-led Senate of protecting “loopholes” that could facilitate electoral manipulation in future elections.

“With this anti-people and anti-democratic action, we are concerned that the APC-led Senate may have set Nigeria’s democracy back by decades.

They are aware of the rejection that awaits them at the forthcoming polls. A free and fair election has therefore become a threat to them,” the statement read.

The parties highlighted a contradiction in the ruling party’s approach, questioning why the APC uses technology for internal member registration but resists implementing electronic result transmission for the public.

Citing recent judicial rulings, including those from the Supreme Court, the opposition pointed to a legal “lacuna” in the Electoral Act 2022, which does not explicitly mandate electronic transmission. Courts have interpreted this gap to mean that electronic transmission lacks formal legislative backing, allowing INEC discretion in result uploads.

“Electronic transmission will increase transparency, trust, and confidence in the electoral process, which in turn strengthens democracy. With this rejection, the Senate has returned Nigeria to square one,” the statement added.

Attention now turns to the National Assembly Conference Committee, which is responsible for harmonizing the versions of the bill passed by both chambers. While the House of Representatives has supported more progressive electronic reforms, the opposition urged conference committee members to prioritize long-term democratic interests over short-term political gains.

“We strongly urge its members to adopt the position of the House of Representatives on mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results. They should act as statesmen, not politicians,” the statement concluded, warning that failing to secure mandatory e-transmission could have serious negative consequences for Nigerian democracy.

The controversy traces back to the Electoral Act 2022, under which INEC introduced the Result Viewing Portal. Section 60(5) states that results should be transmitted “in a manner as prescribed by the Commission,” giving INEC discretion rather than a legal mandate for real-time uploads.

During the 2023 presidential election petitions, the Supreme Court ruled that the discretionary language meant a failure to upload results in real-time did not invalidate elections.