Ahead of the 2027 General Elections, a pressure group, the House to the Rescue (HTR), has canvassed the full digitalisation of the electoral process to eliminate malpractices especially the manipulation of results of elections in Nigeria.
HTR, a coalition of reform-minded legislators and former members of the House of Representatives, which advanced this position on Wednesday in Abuja, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC) to ensure the deployment of technology in the collation and transmission of results to eliminate fraud in these processes and safeguard democracy in the country.
In a statement jointly signed by the coordinators of the group, drawn from various geo-political zones, it equally
urged the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to mandate INEC to adopt procedures that ensure
real-time electronic collation and transmission of results from the ward level directly to the central server during all future elections.
Among those who endorsed the position paper were: Hon. Muhammed Musa Soba – North West; Hon. Zakari Mohammed – North Central; Hon. Olasupo Abiodun – South West; Hon. Sadiq Ibrahim – North East; Hon. Uko Nkole- South East and Hon. Bassey Eko Ewa – South South.
According to the group the adoption of electronic collation and transmission procedures will go a long way in improving the integrity of electoral outcomes.
“The adoption and consistent implementation of real-time electronic result transmission is no longer optional, it is an essential measure to enhance transparency, reduce human interference, and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
“Real-time digital collation ensures that every vote counts, that results are traceable, and that manipulation at collation centres is eliminated.
We also urge international donor agencies and development partners who have invested substantial resources in Nigeria’s electoral system to insist on the transparent use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and smart card readers in all polling units nationwide.
“These technologies, funded and supported by the international community, must be effectively utilized to ensure value for money and to uphold the credibility of elections.
“Furthermore, we call on the National Assembly to strengthen the Electoral Act by explicitly discouraging manual voting, manual result collation, and computation throughout the electoral process. The law must reflect the realities of a modern electoral system that prioritizes accuracy, efficiency, and public trust.
“The future of Nigeria’s democracy depends on credible elections. INEC must rise to the occasion by fully embracing technological transparency and ensuring that every aspect of result management is open, verifiable, and accountable to the people.
“The platform ( HTR) is dedicated to
fostering a united, credible, and principled opposition that speaks with one voice on issues of national importance. In the collective interest of safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy and restoring public trust in governance ,” the statement read.
The group maintained that the adoption and consistent implementation of electronic result transmission is no longer optional, but has become a national necessity.
According to the group, these measures will enhance transparency, eliminate human interference, and guarantee that every vote cast is accurately recorded and reflected in the final outcomes. It argued that by fully utilizing digital collation systems, INEC will ensure that results are verifiable, traceable, and beyond manipulation at collation centres.
The robust use of technology, HTR said, is vital for strengthening democratic accountability and restoring citizens’ trust in electoral institutions. It therefore urged INEC to rise to its constitutional responsibility by fully embracing technological transparency and ensuring that the sanctity of every vote is protected.
