Atiku Rejects Mixed Result Transmission

Atiku Rejects Mixed Result Transmission

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has rejected the mixed electronic and manual transmission of election results in Nigeria and called on opposition political parties to unite in advocating for transparent and credible elections.

Speaking at a news conference in Minna, Niger State, following a closed-door meeting with former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida, Atiku emphasised the urgent need for a fully electronic result transmission system to prevent confusion and disputes during elections.

He warned that the current hybrid model, which combines electronic upload with manual collation as a backup, could create loopholes, misreporting, and undermine public confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The expectations of Nigerians, who are expecting real-time electronic transfer to all levels of the elections, are not being met. What we have now is a mixture of electronic and manual transmission, which could cause more confusion or chaos than a single-tier, fully electronic system. This is why all opposition parties must unite to pursue this issue,” Atiku said.

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The former vice president criticised the Senate’s recent passage of Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act, which allows electronic transmission but retains manual collation as a fallback, describing it as a compromise that falls short of complete openness.

On questions about his presence in Minna and the 2027 presidential election, Atiku clarified that he was focused on strengthening the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at the ward, local, state, and national levels, and denied that his visit signalled political ambition. He also highlighted that the ADC does not have zoning provisions, unlike the PDP, underscoring differences in party structures.

The remarks follow the Senate’s special plenary on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, where the chamber allowed result transmission to the INEC Result Viewing Portal but retained manual collation as a backup and declined to make electronic transmission mandatory or real-time.

Atiku warned that settling for a hybrid system could undermine the integrity of the electoral process, urging opposition parties and civil society groups to stand together for electoral reforms that ensure transparency, accountability, and credible elections in Nigeria.

Atiku Rejects Mixed Result Transmission