The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) on Monday urged the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act to make real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory.
NCS President, Prof. Muhammad Aliyu, made the call in a statement, describing electronic transmission as critical to credible elections and Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
Aliyu was reacting to the Senate’s rejection of mandatory electronic transmission and retention of Section 60(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.
He said the provision had become a legislative loophole capable of undermining transparency and public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Aliyu reaffirmed NCS’s support for real-time electronic transmission, calling it a cornerstone of democratic consolidation and global best practice.
According to him, technology—when properly governed—enhances transparency, reduces human interference, and strengthens public confidence in electoral outcomes.
“Concerns often raised against electronic transmission, including network gaps and cybersecurity risks, can be effectively addressed with available technical solutions.
“Uneven connectivity in rural areas can be tackled through a hybrid transmission architecture, which allows real-time transmission where network exists, while using encrypted store-and-forward mechanisms with timestamping where connectivity is limited,” he said.
On cybersecurity, Aliyu noted that safeguards such as end-to-end encryption, digital signatures, device authentication, immutable audit logs, and independent penetration testing could protect result integrity.
He said capacity challenges among election officials could be addressed through early procurement, phased pilots, and standardized training using NCS-certified professionals and local expertise across geopolitical zones.
Aliyu warned that the Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission and retention of restrictive provisions could expose the electoral process to serious risks, including:
- Erosion of public trust
- Increased election disputes and litigation
- Democratic regression
- Operational vulnerability
- Reputational damage to Nigeria
He said manual collation processes increase exposure to human error, intimidation, and result alteration during transit.
According to him, perceived electoral opacity can discourage investment and weaken Nigeria’s image as a digital leader.
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads. Retaining legal provisions that weaken digital accountability sends the wrong signal to citizens, professionals, and the global community.
“Democracy in the digital age must be verifiable, transparent, and trusted. Digital transformation is not optional for democracy—it is essential,” Aliyu said.
He said NCS is ready to provide institutional support through standards development, independent audits, capacity building, and continuous improvement.
According to him, the society is joining other democratic and civil society organizations to demand the compulsory inclusion of electronic transmission of results in the proposed amendment bill of the Electoral Act.
“Technology must not merely be deployed; it must be trusted, protected, and legally empowered,” Aliyu said.
