El-Rufai Accuses Akpabio of Hindering Real-Time Election Results Transmission

In a Trust TV interview on February 9, 2026, former Governor Nasir El-Rufai accused Senator Godswill Akpabio of deliberately frustrating the inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of election results. El-Rufai, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), claimed that Akpabio's actions were aimed at preserving the ability to manipulate collated results.

El-Rufai also criticized the Electoral Act amendment process, alleging that it lacked provisions for real-time transmission to prevent electoral rigging. He further revealed a strained relationship with President Bola Tinubu, citing conflicting governance philosophies.

El-Rufai rejected a ministerial position offer from Tinubu due to differences in their approaches to governance. The former APC chieftain emphasized the importance of credible elections and hinted at the possibility of the President refusing to assent to the bill, prompting the National Assembly to consider overriding a potential veto.