A former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has urged lawmakers to make the real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory, saying the move could save countless lives during elections.
Amaechi joined protesters on Tuesday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, demanding that the proposed 2027 amendment to the Electoral Act require the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results electronically in real time directly from polling units.
“The advantage is that very few persons will die on the election field. Very few Nigerians. You are saving the lives of Nigerians,” Amaechi told the crowd, warning that every election season sees citizens killed while officials shield themselves behind security forces.
His intervention comes amid heated debates over whether electronic transmission should be mandatory or discretionary. Civil society groups, youth organisations, and concerned citizens staged a sit-in protest, carrying mattresses and pillows to symbolically declare that they would not leave until lawmakers met their demands.
Amaechi emphasised the importance of mass mobilisation to prevent rigging, saying, “If you think they won’t rig, you’re wasting time. To stop them from rigging, we must come out in large numbers… When they see the number of people who have come out, they will join.”
He expressed frustration over perceived indifference from government authorities, adding, “The problem is not even Ribadu. Even the president doesn’t think the citizens matter. The only way to save Nigerians from electoral violence is to allow transmission, re-transmission.”
Referencing international law, Amaechi warned against excessive use of force on voters: “There is a number you are not allowed to kill… Whoever gave that instruction must account for it. Tinubu won’t travel out of this country after his presidency if those people are killed.”
His intervention aligns with calls from other prominent figures, including former presidential candidate Peter Obi, for compulsory electronic transmission to ensure transparency and credible elections. Amaechi urged citizens to mobilise nationwide, stating, “If there are 300,000 policemen, bring out 600,000 Nigerians… We must wake up. We must mobilise much, much more.”
The protest highlighted ongoing tensions over the Electoral Act amendment. While some legislators argue that electronic transmission should remain discretionary due to logistical concerns, protesters insist that only an explicit legal requirement can prevent manipulation and ensure credible elections.
