Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avoid citing technical glitches as an excuse for any failures during the voting process.
The party emphasized the need for strict adherence to the legal framework that mandates the electronic transmission of election results, warning that it would oppose any attempts to manipulate outcomes or undermine the will of Nigerians.
Section 64 (4), (5), and (6) of the Electoral Act 2022 requires that results be recorded and transmitted directly from polling units using Smart Card Readers (SCR) or other electronic devices approved by INEC.
During the 2023 presidential election, INEC reported technical issues that prevented the real-time transmission of results.
Addressing the press on Monday, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba expressed concern over what he termed “institutional manipulation” in past elections. He insisted that INEC must guarantee direct, real-time transmission of results from polling units in 2027.
“There must be no glitches in 2027. If POS machines function reliably across even the most remote areas, INEC cannot claim that its BVAS machines fail on election day. Any such failure would be deliberate and unacceptable,” Ologunagba said.
He further stressed that the issue is not merely political but crucial to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy, calling on INEC to fulfill its constitutional duty to ensure that every vote counts and is transparently recorded.
Ologunagba noted that the technology and infrastructure for seamless electronic transmission are already in place, accusing INEC of failing to fully utilize them in previous elections.
