Human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that a significant number of Nigeria’s elected leaders, including those occupying the highest offices in the land, emerged through compromised electoral processes rather than genuine popular support.
Sowore argued that many politicians currently in power would struggle to secure victory in a truly transparent and credible election. He made these remarks on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he addressed the ongoing debate surrounding recent amendments to the Electoral Act.
The controversy centres on provisions dealing with the electronic transmission of election results. Following sustained public outcry and advocacy from civil society groups, the Senate approved amendments allowing the electronic transfer of results. However, lawmakers retained a clause permitting manual collation in areas where internet connectivity is deemed inadequate.
Reacting to this development, Sowore maintained that the retention of manual collation provisions reflects a deliberate attempt by political actors to preserve avenues for manipulation. According to him, the justification that certain parts of the country lack sufficient network coverage is weak and unconvincing.
He contended that many legislators are wary of fully transparent elections because such a process could significantly alter Nigeria’s political landscape. In his view, a credible system driven entirely by electronic transmission would make it difficult for entrenched interests to influence outcomes.
Sowore further criticised what he described as half-measures in electoral reform, insisting that Nigeria must move beyond incremental adjustments and adopt a more technologically advanced system. Drawing comparisons with India, he noted that the Asian country, with approximately 900 million registered voters, has successfully implemented electronic voting on a massive scale.
He argued that if India can conduct elections electronically with minimal post-election disputes, Nigeria—with far fewer registered voters—should be capable of doing the same. According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ought to modernise its processes rather than rely on what he described as outdated mechanisms, including the current results viewing system.
Sowore concluded that comprehensive electronic voting is essential for restoring public trust in Nigeria’s democracy, reducing election-related litigation, and ensuring that electoral outcomes genuinely reflect the will of the people.
0 Comments