Hauwa Ali
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, during the inauguration of the Nigerian Youths for Atiku (NYFA) political movement in Abuja recently, urged Nigerian youths to mount pressure on the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act to allow for electronic collation of election results. His call comes amid growing national concern over the integrity and transparency of Nigeria’s electoral process.
As Nigeria grapples with the challenges of building a credible and transparent electoral system, the call for electoral reform has resurfaced with renewed urgency. At the forefront of this advocacy is former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Speaking at the launch of the Nigerian Youths for Atiku (NYFA), Atiku charged Nigerian youths to demand amendments to the nation’s Electoral Act, especially to ensure the electronic collation of election results.
Atiku’s position resonates with a long-standing frustration shared by millions of Nigerians who believe that the country’s electoral process is mired in outdated practices, vulnerable to manipulation, and incapable of delivering the credibility required for a healthy democracy.
The Nigerian Electoral Act, last amended in 2022, has faced criticism on multiple fronts. Despite introducing some positive changes—such as the deployment of technology for voter accreditation via the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)—the Act stops short of mandating electronic collation and transmission of results, creating a major gap in the electoral process.
During the 2023 general elections, reports of discrepancies between electronically transmitted results from polling units and manually collated figures at collation centres sparked widespread concern and allegations of electoral malpractice. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier promised to upload results in real-time using the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), but the delay and inconsistency in result uploads fuelled suspicions of foul play.
Atiku drew attention to this exact concern, pointing to the Turkish presidential elections as a model of transparency. “There was no manual collation,” he emphasized. “I was watching the results coming in electronically. They didn’t round up 49.5 to 50 percent—they called for a new election. That’s what accountability looks like.”
Thorny Issues in the Current Electoral Act
Manual Collation of Results: One of the most contentious elements in Nigeria’s electoral process is the continued reliance on manual collation at various levels—ward, local government, state, and national. This method has historically provided room for manipulation, result tampering, and logistical delays.
Ambiguity in the Use of Technology: While Section 47 of the 2022 Electoral Act allows INEC to use technology for voter accreditation, the law remains vague on whether electronic transmission and collation of results are mandatory or discretionary. This lack of legal clarity permits selective implementation.
Pre-election and Post-election Litigation: The current Electoral Act allows candidates to contest the process only after an election has been concluded. However, pre-election irregularities—including party primaries, voter registration fraud, and procedural violations—often go unpunished or unresolved before the main elections.
Overbearing Influence of Political Godfathers: The law does little to curtail the influence of political heavyweights who often impose candidates or manipulate processes behind the scenes, contributing to a lack of internal party democracy.
Campaign Financing and Transparency: The current framework does not effectively regulate campaign finance. Politicians often outspend legal limits with no real consequence, undermining fairness and giving undue advantage to the wealthy.
Voter Disenfranchisement: Millions of Nigerians couldn’t vote in 2023 due to poor logistical planning, delayed PVC distribution, insecurity, and failure of the voter accreditation process. These issues persist because of insufficient enforcement of electoral provisions and inadequate accountability mechanisms.
Towards a Better Electoral Act
To address these issues and rebuild trust in the democratic process, experts and civil society groups have recommended several critical amendments to the Electoral Act. Atiku’s suggestion—electronic collation of results—is just one of many urgent reforms needed.
Mandate Electronic Transmission and Collation: A revised Electoral Act must explicitly require INEC to transmit and collate results electronically. This will reduce opportunities for tampering and create a real-time, traceable system that boosts public confidence.
Empower INEC with Greater Independence and Resources: INEC should constitutionally be guaranteed operational and financial independence to resist political pressure. Adequate funding, training, and infrastructure should be mandated before each electoral cycle.
Enforce Internal Party Democracy: Parties must be compelled to hold transparent primaries, with strict penalties for violations. Discourage the use of consensus candidates and imposition by party elites through legal reforms.
Establish Clear Campaign Finance Rules: There must be more robust laws on campaign finance, including mandatory disclosures, spending caps, and penalties for violations. The use of illicit funds in campaigns has been a major driver of vote-buying and corruption.
Introduce Stiffer Penalties for Electoral Offenses: The Act must be amended to include specific penalties for electoral offenses such as ballot snatching, result manipulation, and voter intimidation. A special electoral offenses tribunal could fast-track prosecutions and enforcement.
Improve Voter Access and Participation: Electoral reforms should include better planning for PVC distribution, clearer communication with voters, and provisions to allow displaced populations—such as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)—to vote.
Allow for Diaspora Voting: Millions of Nigerians in the diaspora contribute significantly to the economy but are shut out of the democratic process. Including them in future elections will deepen inclusion and national engagement.
Atiku’s comments also highlight the pivotal role young Nigerians can play in shaping the country’s future. Over 70% of registered voters as of 2023 were aged between 18 and 35, yet this demographic remains underrepresented in governance.
“Young people must not wait for politicians to give them the future—they must fight for it,” Atiku urged. “The National Assembly may not change the Electoral Act because it benefits them, but if you speak with one voice, you can force that change.”
The youth-driven #EndSARS protests in 2020 demonstrated the power of coordinated civic action. Similarly, voter registration drives and turnout efforts ahead of the 2023 elections were largely youth-led, reflecting a hunger for participation in governance. Still, systemic issues and disillusionment following the 2023 polls have tempered that momentum.
Civil society organizations like Yiaga Africa, SERAP, and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) have also joined the call for reform, publishing detailed reports and recommendations. However, without sustained public pressure—especially from Nigeria’s vibrant youth population—meaningful reform remains unlikely.
A Window of Opportunity
With the next general elections still a few years away, the time for reform is now. Constitutional and legal amendments require time, debate, and political consensus. Failing to act quickly could mean repeating the same flawed processes in 2027.
There is a growing consensus that Nigeria cannot afford another electoral cycle marred by chaos, mistrust, and avoidable errors. As Atiku emphasized, political leaders may not willingly surrender the tools of manipulation. It is up to the people—especially the youth—to demand and enforce change.
The flaws in Nigeria’s electoral system are well known, and solutions are not out of reach. What is needed is the political will, legislative courage, and civic pressure to implement them. The Electoral Act must be more than a legal document—it must be a living tool that protects the will of the people.
Atiku’s timely intervention serves as a reminder that democracy is never fully won; it must be constantly defended. If Nigeria is to chart a path toward fair, free, and credible elections, then now is the time to revisit and revise the Electoral Act—towards a better amendment and a more democratic Nigeria.
