By Muhammad Mamman
Abuja, Nigeria – A Nigerian lawmaker has tabled a motion in the Senate seeking to reverse an earlier legislative decision that halted the mandatory electronic transmission of election results, reigniting debate over electoral transparency ahead of future polls.
Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, who represents Borno North, introduced the motion during plenary on Tuesday, urging lawmakers to reconsider provisions of the Electoral Act that currently leave the electronic transfer of results at the discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Senate had previously amended the Electoral Act to remove the compulsory electronic transmission of results from polling units, a move that drew criticism from civil society groups and opposition parties, who argue that it weakens safeguards against electoral fraud.
Presenting his motion, Monguno said restoring mandatory electronic transmission would strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and align Nigeria with global best practices in democratic governance.
He stressed that technology-driven voting systems had proven effective in improving transparency and reducing human interference in elections, adding that Nigeria must take decisive steps to deepen its democracy.
Several senators supported the motion, calling for urgent reforms to ensure credible elections, while others urged caution, citing concerns over infrastructure gaps, cybersecurity risks and network coverage in rural areas.
The Senate is expected to debate the proposal further in the coming days, with the possibility of referring it to the relevant committee for review.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has faced persistent challenges over election credibility, with disputed results and allegations of manipulation frequently dominating post-election discourse. Analysts say any move to reinstate mandatory electronic transmission could mark a significant shift in the country’s electoral framework.
