Ezekwesili Demands Mandatory E-Transmission of Election Results

Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education, criticized the Nigerian Senate for its rejection of a mandatory electronic transmission clause for election results during a protest at the National Assembly on February 4. The Senate passed an amendment to the Electoral Act that reduced the timeline for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish election results from 360 days to 180 days.

Ezekwesili stated that the Senate's ambiguous provisions grant discretionary power rather than making electronic transmission compulsory, which she believes is essential for electoral integrity. She highlighted the need for transparency to prevent controversies similar to those surrounding previous elections.

Ezekwesili accused lawmakers of undermining democracy by resisting the mandatory clause, asserting that every vote must count. She emphasized that the mandatory real-time electronic transmission clause is crucial for electoral transparency.

The protests also included Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party, and Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor and minister, who joined the call for mandatory electronic transmission of election results.