Electoral Act: This ‘wayo’ confirms rigging of 2027 election – CUPP slams Senate

The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has said that the recent revision by the Nigerian Senate to Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which now permits the electronic transmission of election results from each polling unit ‘provided the system does not fail,’ represents nothing more than cosmetic tinkering with the existing law.

For CUPP, there is no meaningful difference between the ‘revised’ clause and the previous ambiguous provision.

It said the Senate has merely introduced a condition that guarantees continued confusion, manipulation, and distrust in the electoral process.

“By tying electronic transmission to the unreliable caveat of system non-failure, the Senate has deliberately created a massive lacuna that can—and will—be exploited by those who wield state authority, particularly the ruling APC,” CUPP said in a statement signed by Peter Ameh, its Secretary.

It described the new law as a ‘Wayo twist’ which allows for manual interference at collation centres whenever it suits those in power, under the pretext of hence technical glitches 2027.

“This is a familiar excuse that has plagued our elections for years. The more the law appears to change, the more it remains the same: six and half a dozen, as the saying goes,” the statement said.

“This amendment does not reflect the overwhelming wishes of Nigerians for mandatory, real-time electronic transmission of results to the IREV portal without conditions or loopholes. Instead, it betrays public trust, preserves vulnerabilities to result alteration, and undermines the credibility of future elections, including those in 2027.

“The Senate has once again demonstrated a blatant disregard for the aspirations of the Nigerian people for transparent, free, and fair elections.

“We call on all patriotic Nigerians, civil society organizations, the media, and international observers to reject this half-hearted reform and demand genuine electoral justice. Our votes must count, and our democracy must not be held hostage by self-serving political Senators.”

Electoral Act: This ‘wayo’ confirms rigging of 2027 election – CUPP slams Senate