Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Senate for failing to approve real-time transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s result viewing portal (IReV). On Tuesday, the upper legislative chamber approved the electronic transmission of election results to IReV but included a clause allowing manual collation as a fallback where technology fails. …
Atiku Rejects Manual Collation, Urges Opposition to Demand Real-time Result Transmission
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Senate for failing to approve real-time transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s result viewing portal (IReV).
On Tuesday, the upper legislative chamber approved the electronic transmission of election results to IReV but included a clause allowing manual collation as a fallback where technology fails.
The decision followed the passage of the Electoral Act amendment bill last week, during which the Senate rejected a proposal for real-time transmission of election results, a move that has since sparked protests and public criticism.
Warning of Electoral Confusion
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday in Minna, the Niger State capital, after a visit to former military head of state Ibrahim Babangida, Abubakar warned that the senate’s position could undermine the credibility of elections.
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He said Nigerians had anticipated a single-tier electoral system based entirely on real-time electronic transmission rather than a hybrid arrangement combining manual and electronic methods.
“Nigerians were expecting real-time electronic transfer of results at all levels of elections, but what we now have is a mixture of electronic and manual transmission, which is likely to create more confusion or chaos,” he said.
Call for Opposition Unity
Abubakar urged opposition political parties to unite in rejecting the Senate’s decision and to insist on real-time transmission of election results.
“There is a need for all opposition political parties to come together to pursue this issue. We should not allow it to remain where it is today. I do not support that decision,” he said.
Position on 2023 Presidential Election
Asked about his political ambition ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Abubakar said the issue was not under consideration at the moment.
He explained that his focus within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is on strengthening the party’s structures from the ward level through the local government and state levels to the national level.
Abubakar also dismissed calls for zoning within the ADC, noting that the party’s constitution makes no provision for such an arrangement.
“In fact, the only party that has zoning in its constitution is the PDP,” he said.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
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