Minority Lawmakers Protest APC’s Rejection of Electronic Transmission of Election Results in House of Representatives

By Inalegwu Osemi

Minority lawmakers in the House of Representatives have staged a protest against members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over their decision to reject the proposal for electronic transmission of election results.

The protesting lawmakers, drawn from opposition parties, expressed strong dissatisfaction during plenary, arguing that electronic transmission of results would enhance transparency, credibility, and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

They accused APC lawmakers of undermining electoral reforms that would strengthen democracy and reduce the risk of manipulation during collation.

Speaking on behalf of the minority caucus, some lawmakers described the rejection as a setback to democratic progress, insisting that technology-driven result transmission has become a global standard.

They maintained that electronic transmission would ensure real-time reporting, limit human interference, and prevent disputes arising from manual handling of election results.

The lawmakers further stressed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already demonstrated capacity in deploying technology in recent elections, including voter accreditation systems. They urged the ruling party members to prioritize national interest over partisan considerations.

However, some APC lawmakers defended their position, citing concerns over infrastructure limitations, network coverage gaps, and the need to ensure the reliability and integrity of the electoral process before fully adopting electronic transmission nationwide.

The protest briefly disrupted proceedings as opposition members demanded reconsideration of the decision, warning that rejecting electronic transmission could weaken electoral credibility and public trust.

Political observers say the disagreement reflects broader tensions over electoral reforms as Nigeria continues efforts to strengthen its democratic institutions ahead of future elections.

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