The Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum (SMBLF) has insisted that mandatory electronic transmission of results remains critical to credible and transparent elections in Nigeria.
In a statement on Monday, the group called for the retention of Clause 60 of the Electoral Amendment Bill, which mandates real-time electronic transmission of election results.
It warned that any attempt to weaken the provision amounts to an attack on the sovereignty of the Nigerian people.
The statement was jointly signed by Oba Oladipo Olaitan, leader of SMBLF and Afenifere, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Senator John Azuta Mbata, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and Ambassador Godknows Igali, National Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
The forum recalled that Clause 60 was passed by the House of Representatives and harmonised by the Joint Conference Committee of the National Assembly, noting that it provides legal backing for the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
According to the group, IReV was introduced to enhance transparency by allowing citizens to view polling unit results in real time.
It argued that, “When properly backed by law, IReV removes secrecy, manipulation, and post-election confusion.”
The SMBLF expressed concern that despite public affirmations by a broad section of senators during plenary and executive sessions in favour of mandatory electronic transmission of results, the final version of the bill appeared to exclude the provision.
“We are alarmed by credible claims that the Senate President tampered with the final version, leading to the appearance of an unauthorised bill that excludes this crucial provision,” the group said.
The forum noted the statement by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, senate minority leader, who affirmed that the upper legislative chamber passed a bill making electronic transmission of results mandatory, only for a different version to later surface.
The group urged Nigerians to demand clarity from their senators on their positions regarding the provision.
“Transparent voting is the bloodline of democracy, and any Senator who opposes real-time electronic transmission of results does not deserve a return to the Senate,” the statement said.
Commenting on concerns about poor telecom coverage, the forum said INEC had already dismissed the claim, noting that the BVAS device has offline capability to store results and upload them once connectivity is available.
The group added that this capability was demonstrated during the 2023 general elections.
“This was proven during the 2023 general elections, until the system was deliberately sabotaged during the presidential poll, as most Nigerians believe,” the statement said.
Electronic transmission of results critical to credible, transparent elections – SMBLF insists
