By Muhammad Mamman
A former National Commissioner of Nigeria’s electoral body, Festus Okoye, has asserted that all polling units across the country have internet connectivity capable of supporting the electronic transmission of election results.
Okoye, who previously served as National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), dismissed claims that poor network coverage remains a major barrier to the full implementation of electronic results transmission.
Speaking amid renewed debates over electoral reforms, he maintained that Nigeria’s polling infrastructure has evolved significantly, arguing that technological limitations should no longer be cited as justification for delays or resistance to e-transmission.
“The issue is not the absence of internet access at polling units,” Okoye said, according to local media reports. “The necessary framework exists to transmit results electronically from across the country.”
The question of electronic transmission has remained contentious since the 2023 general elections, with critics raising concerns over technical glitches, connectivity gaps and legal ambiguities. Civil society groups and opposition parties have repeatedly called for clearer guidelines and stronger safeguards to enhance transparency and public confidence.
Under Nigeria’s electoral framework, INEC is empowered to deploy technological innovations, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), to improve the integrity of elections. However, disputes over the consistency and reliability of electronic uploads have fuelled legal and political battles in the aftermath of recent polls.
Okoye’s comments are likely to reignite discussions among lawmakers currently reviewing proposals aimed at strengthening the Electoral Act and clarifying the legal standing of electronically transmitted results.
