Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has criticized the Senate over its rejection of a provision mandating the electronic transmission of election results, alleging that the decision is intended to allow post-election manipulation.
Speaking on Trust TV, El-Rufai said he would have joined the protest at the National Assembly led by African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential aspirant Peter Obi and other opposition figures but for his absence from the country.
“I would have joined Mr. Peter Obi and other party leaders in protesting to the National Assembly to restore the real-time and mandatory transmission of results from the polling unit,” he said.
El-Rufai described electronic transmission of results as the most effective safeguard against electoral malpractice, arguing that rigging does not occur at polling units but during the collation process.
“The only way to stop manipulation is at the collection centers. That is where the real rigging takes place. It doesn’t happen at the polling unit,” he stated.
He expressed concern that while the House of Representatives has approved the provision for mandatory electronic transmission of results, the Senate is allegedly blocking its passage.
According to him, the amendment would significantly improve the credibility of elections but is being resisted for political reasons.
“This provision would have improved the quality of our elections, but we all know why the ruling party and the sitting government don’t want it. They know they cannot win elections without manipulation,” El-Rufai alleged.
He further claimed that altering results after voting gives the ruling party its only advantage. “The only way they have a fighting chance is to manipulate the results after people have voted,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Newssphere earlier reported that protesters on Monday morning besieged the National Assembly in Abuja to oppose the Senate’s decision against mandatory electronic transmission of election results.
Peter Obi was seen leading the protest, urging lawmakers to implement urgent electoral reforms to protect the integrity of future elections.
