Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Prominent civil society leader and former federal minister Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili has accused the Nigerian Senate of intentionally creating a loophole in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill that she says could be exploited to manipulate the 2027 general elections. Ezekwesili’s comments came amid nationwide controversy over the Senate’s handling of provisions relating to the electronic transmission of election results.
Ezekwesili sharply criticised the Senate’s decision to depart from a previously proposed clause mandating real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units, arguing that the amended language opens the door for post-colation interference and undermines electoral transparency. She described the provision passed by lawmakers as “an insult on the collective intelligence of Nigerians,” asserting that it weakens safeguards designed to ensure that every vote counts. Critics, including Ezekwesili, argue that allowing physical forms or manual results to serve as alternatives could enable manipulation and reduce public confidence in the electoral process.
In her remarks, Ezekwesili contrasted the Senate’s stance with the position earlier adopted by the House of Representatives, which had passed language requiring electronic transmission of results in real time, insisting that this approach better protects against rigging and enhances transparency. She has called on lawmakers to revisit the amendment and ensure that it reflects the citizens’ demand for robust electoral integrity measures.
Her comments reflect broader public and civil society concern over the National Assembly’s handling of electoral reform, particularly as protests and civic actions have erupted in Abuja and other cities over perceived threats to democratic accountability. Among these is the ongoing campaign for mandatory real-time electronic results transmission, widely seen as a key reform to prevent post-election manipulation and strengthen trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Ezekwesili’s critique has contributed to a heated national debate on how best to reform the electoral legal framework ahead of the 2027 polls, with opposition figures, activists and segments of the public warning that ambiguities in the law could hamper efforts to conduct free and fair elections.
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