Atiku, a former presidential candidate, reacted to the Senate’s refusal to approve real-time electronic transmission of election results, describing the decision as harmful to electoral openness in Nigeria. He made his position known in a statement released on February 5, 2026, where he said the move weakens trust in the country’s democratic process.
He explained that while many countries are improving their electoral systems through modern technology, Nigeria appears to be holding on to practices that allow secrecy and post-election disputes. According to him, the Senate’s action keeps alive a system that has often made it easy for results to be altered after voting.
Atiku said changes that promote open and clear elections are often opposed, while unclear provisions that favour those already in power are retained. He noted that electronic transmission of results in real time is not meant to benefit any political party but to protect the votes cast by citizens.
He added that sending results directly from polling units helps reduce human interference, limits manipulation, and ensures that votes counted at the polling units are the same as the final results announced.
The former vice president also expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to rely on the 2022 provisions on electronic transmission, saying they do not go far enough to guarantee open elections. He warned that this approach raises questions about the intentions of the political class as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
Atiku called on Nigerians, civil society groups, the media, and the international community to stay alert and continue pushing for an electoral system that reflects global democratic practices and protects the will of the voters.
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