Power shortages and weak tech infrastructure could undermine plans for instant electronic result transmission ahead of 2027, Senator Kenneth Eze cautions.
Sen. Kenneth Eze (Ebonyi Central) says Nigeria currently lacks the infrastructure needed for seamless real-time electronic transmission of election results, urging caution as lawmakers review amendments to the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in Ezza South LGA, Ebonyi State, Eze said while electronic transmission is desirable, unstable electricity supply and limited technological capacity remain major obstacles. He noted that true real-time transmission is only possible with full electronic voting — not paper ballots that require manual counting and uploading.
“Real-time transmission means automatic transfer of votes instantly after casting. Once manual counting and entry occur, it is no longer real-time,” he explained.
The senator clarified that the National Assembly has not rejected electronic transmission but is working toward practical reforms. He revealed plans to make BVAS accreditation mandatory and scrap manual accreditation entirely, warning that results exceeding accredited voter numbers would be invalidated.
Eze also recalled challenges during the 2023 elections, including poorly charged BVAS devices and reliance on generators at collation centres, which disrupted accreditation and result uploads.
He added that proposed reforms would introduce mandatory direct primaries, allowing party members—not delegates—to choose candidates, a move he described as a major step toward strengthening internal democracy.
Eze urged Nigerians to trust lawmakers to enact realistic reforms that enhance electoral transparency while addressing the country’s technological and infrastructure gaps.
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