Ezekwesili urges mandatory real-time transmission of election results, faults Senate’s stance

Former Minister of Education and governance advocate, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has renewed calls for full electoral transparency, insisting that real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results should be made legally mandatory in Nigeria.

In a statement shared via her verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, Ezekwesili said transparency in governance can never be excessive, stressing that credible elections depend on clear, enforceable rules rather than institutional discretion.

According to her, making real-time electronic transmission of results compulsory would ensure that votes truly count and are shielded from interference or manipulation.

“There can never be too much transparency,” she said. “By making real-time electronic transmission of results at polling units legally mandatory, it ensures that our votes are not subject to discretion or manipulation.”

Ezekwesili dismissed claims that the demand for electronic transmission of results is unrealistic or overly complicated, describing such arguments as misleading.

She questioned why any well-meaning Nigerian would oppose the uploading of polling unit results in real time to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Backing her argument with data, the former minister noted that INEC had successfully implemented real-time electronic transmission of results in previous elections before the 2023 general polls.

She cited the 2022 Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, where polling unit results were uploaded to the IReV portal in near real time, allowing observers and media platforms to track results throughout the day.

She also referenced the 2021 Anambra governorship election, described as Nigeria’s first governorship poll to deploy BVAS technology and online transmission of results, which was widely adjudged credible by local and international observers.

Ezekwesili expressed concern over what she described as resistance to transparency, warning that such opposition often signals hidden interests.

She questioned why the Senate appeared reluctant to strengthen provisions on electronic transmission of results in the ongoing electoral reform process, cautioning that weakening the law by leaving transmission methods to INEC’s discretion could undermine citizens’ rights.

She, however, commended the House of Representatives for passing a bill that explicitly mandates real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results.

Quoting Clause 60(3) of the bill, she noted: “INEC shall electronically transmit election results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal in real time and such transmission shall be done simultaneously with the physical collation of results.”

Ezekwesili urged citizens to collectively pressure members of the National Assembly to retain strong provisions on electoral transparency, emphasising that transparency remains the foundation of credible elections and democratic trust. “Transparency is always better,” she added.

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