As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging it not to cite technical glitches as an excuse for any lapses in the electoral process.
The PDP emphasized the need for full enforcement of the legal provisions requiring electronic transmission of election results, as outlined in Section 64 (4), (5), and (6) of the Electoral Act 2022.
These sections mandate that results be recorded and transmitted directly from polling units using the Smart Card Reader (SCR) or any other electronic device approved by INEC.
This warning comes in light of INEC’s admission that the electronic transmission of the 2023 presidential election results was hindered by technical issues, preventing real-time updates.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba expressed deep concern over what he termed “institutional manipulation” in previous elections.
He stressed that the party would firmly oppose any attempt to compromise the integrity of the electoral process or subvert the will of the Nigerian people.
Ologunagba reiterated the PDP’s demand that INEC guarantee real-time transmission of results directly from polling units, as required by law.
“There must be no glitches in 2027. If POS machines work seamlessly across the remotest parts of this country, then INEC cannot claim that its BVAS machines suddenly fail on election day. That would be deliberate, institutional manipulation, and Nigerians will not accept it.
“This is no longer about politics; it is about the very survival of our democracy. INEC must rise to its constitutional duty and guarantee a process where every vote counts, and every vote is seen to count,” Ologunagba declared.
He emphasized that the necessary technology and infrastructure are already in place to enable smooth electronic transmission of election results, but criticized INEC for not utilizing them to their full potential in past elections.
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