The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised alarm over what it calls a serious threat to Nigeria’s electoral credibility following the Senate’s recent decision on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
At the centre of the controversy is a proposed amendment to Clause 70, Subsection 3, which would have made the electronic transmission of election results mandatory. The move, supporters argued, was aimed at enhancing transparency and reducing incidents of result manipulation. However, the Senate chose to retain the existing provision, a decision Senate President Godswill Akpabio explained as a preference for the current legal framework rather than an outright rejection of electronic transmission.
For the ADC, the implications of this decision are far-reaching. In a statement issued on Thursday, party spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi described the Senate’s action as “a deliberate attempt to weaken democratic safeguards” and warned that it could pave the way for electoral manipulation in future elections.
Analysts say that while the Senate’s stance might appear procedural, critics argue it risks slowing Nigeria’s progress toward modern, transparent voting systems. With elections a recurring flashpoint for tensions and disputes in the country, any perceived weakening of safeguards could fuel distrust among voters.
As political parties and civil society continue to debate the merits of electronic results transmission, the ADC’s statement underscores a growing concern: that legislative decisions today could shape the integrity of Nigeria’s elections tomorrow.
