ABUJA — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded strict enforcement of the Electoral Act’s provisions on electronic transmission of election results in the 2027 general elections, warning it will resist any attempt to manipulate the process or undermine the will of Nigerians.
Citing Sections 64 (4), (5), and (6) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandate the recording and transmission of results directly from polling units using the Smart Card Reader (SCR) or other approved electronic devices, the opposition party said there can be no repeat of the “glitches” that marred the 2023 polls.
Speaking at a briefing in Abuja on Monday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of institutional manipulation in past elections and insisted that every vote must count in 2027.
“There must be no glitches in 2027. If POS machines work seamlessly across the remotest parts of this country, then INEC cannot claim that BVAS suddenly fails on election day. That would be deliberate manipulation, and Nigerians will not accept it,” Ologunagba declared.
He stressed that technology and infrastructure already exist to ensure seamless real-time transmission of results, dismissing INEC’s excuses during the last presidential election as unacceptable.
“Votes must count and be counted. The only way democracy can thrive is for INEC to guarantee real-time transmission of results to prevent manipulation. Any attempt to abridge Nigerians’ rights to choose their leaders will be firmly resisted,” he warned.
The PDP spokesman also slammed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for what he described as “early campaigns and endorsement shopping,” accusing the party of abandoning governance at a time when Nigerians are grappling with hunger, poverty, and harsh economic policies.
“If the APC and President Bola Tinubu were truly performing, they wouldn’t need endorsements. Nigerians cannot feed their families, pay school fees, or afford basic necessities. Yet this government continues to impose punishing policies, like the proposed five percent tax on petroleum products,” he said.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) backed the PDP’s position, with its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, insisting that electronic transmission of results is the only way to guarantee credibility.
“If establishing a legal framework for electronic transmission will compel INEC to act rightly and deepen transparency, then the ADC will stand firmly in support. Anything that ensures votes genuinely count is not just desirable; it is an absolute necessity,” Abdullahi stated.
With less than two years to the next general elections, both opposition parties insist that Nigerians deserve nothing less than a transparent, glitch-free process in 2027.
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