Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abiodun Ajiboye, a prominent chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Executive Secretary of the National Institute of Cultural Orientation, has cast serious doubt on Nigeria’s readiness to adopt real-time electronic transmission of election results, citing technological, infrastructural and security limitations that he says could undermine the integrity of future electoral processes. His comments, made during an interview on Arise TV on Monday, February 9, come amid ongoing legislative debates over electoral reform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ajiboye’s remarks focused on the fundamental challenges Nigeria faces in implementing instantaneous electronic communication of results from polling units to central collation centres. “Transmitting election results electronically is the function of the manner of voting,” he told the station, questioning how manual voting could logically be paired with real-time digital transmission. “If you vote manually and you collate results, how do you then transmit electronically real-time? It’s just not possible. We can’t even afford it. Even if we wish to, we can’t afford it.”
The APC official stressed that even beyond the question of voting method, basic infrastructure remains a significant barrier. He challenged whether telecommunications providers in Nigeria possess the capability to support the nationwide data throughput required for real-time uploads, and highlighted the inconsistent availability of electricity across many regions, especially in rural areas. “Do we have enough electricity to undertake that responsibility in Nigeria?” Ajiboye asked, underscoring the patchy nature of services in wide swaths of the country where network coverage is limited or nonexistent.
Ajiboye also raised concerns about cybersecurity, referencing an incident in the last general election when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) server faced intense external attacks. “The last election we had, the INEC server was attacked over a million times,” he said, arguing that placing the electoral process in a context potentially vulnerable to digital hijacking and manipulation could foster confusion rather than confidence.
Although Nigeria has deployed technological elements in its electoral architecture — most notably the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used to capture voter accreditation data — Ajiboye distinguished these tools from full-scale real-time results transmission. He reiterated the enduring relevance of manual processes, noting that votes are still cast and counted on paper at polling units and that these physical documents, signed by party agents, remain the foundational evidence of electoral outcomes. Ajiboye suggested that results could be scanned and transmitted in other ways once counted, but insisted this was fundamentally different from mandatory real-time transmission as envisioned by some reform advocates.
Ajiboye’s position highlights the broader debate within Nigeria about how best to modernise electoral systems while safeguarding inclusivity and credibility. Critics of compulsory real-time transmission argue that it could disenfranchise voters in areas without stable electricity or network access, particularly in rural or conflict-affected states where connectivity is unreliable. Some civil society groups have echoed these points, warning that mandatory digital transmission could invalidate votes simply because infrastructure shortcomings prevent seamless uploads.
Opposing views, including from technical professionals and civil rights advocates, counter that electronic transmission — properly designed and implemented — could enhance transparency, reduce opportunities for manipulation, and accelerate result collation. Proponents argue that hybrid systems employing satellite links, offline data caching and secure digital protocols can mitigate infrastructure gaps while safeguarding data integrity.
The legislative context for Ajiboye’s intervention is crucial. The National Assembly recently considered amendments to the Electoral Act that would have mandated real-time electronic transmission of election results by polling unit presiding officers, uploading them directly to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal. While the House of Representatives passed this provision, reports indicate that the Senate removed the mandatory “real-time” requirement from the final version, retaining instead broader language that allows INEC discretion in how results are transmitted. Senate leaders have defended the decision as a pragmatic response to Nigeria’s infrastructural realities, while critics argue it weakens electoral transparency.
Ajiboye’s comments also engage with broader anxieties over electoral security and trust in the results-management process. Beyond technical obstacles, repeated legal disputes arising from past elections have underscored the tensions between technological innovation and entrenched procedural norms. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that electronic data alone cannot substitute for physically signed result sheets, reinforcing the centrality of manual documentation in adjudicating electoral disputes.
As Nigeria approaches its next general elections, the debate over real-time electronic transmission remains unresolved. Ajiboye’s remarks reflect a significant strand of political thought that prioritises practical feasibility and infrastructural readiness over rapid adoption of digital systems. Whether this perspective will prevail in shaping electoral law and practice, or whether momentum for technology-driven reforms will grow stronger, depends on continuing legislative negotiations and assessments by INEC and relevant stakeholders.
The outcome of this debate carries implications not only for electoral administration but also for broader democratic confidence. Advocates of technological solutions argue that transparency and speed in result collation can enhance legitimacy and public trust. Skeptics counter that without foundational support systems, premature mandates could inadvertently marginalise voters and create new avenues for confusion or dispute. The evolving conversation will likely influence how Nigeria balances innovation with inclusivity and legal certainty in its electoral architecture.
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