SDP insists on clear legal backing for electronic transmission of results
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expressed concern over what it described as deliberate resistance by the leadership of the Senate to meaningful electoral reforms.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the party said it was speaking out in defence of transparency, accountability and the will of the Nigerian people.
The SDP said a key issue is the refusal to provide a clear legislative mandate for the real-time electronic transmission of election results, which it noted has been widely demanded by Nigerians.
According to the party, citizens made their position clear during the nationwide public hearings conducted by the Senate in 2025 on the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2026. It said participants called for reforms that would address the credibility concerns that followed the 2023 general elections and strengthen the country’s democratic process through transparent, technology-driven systems.
The SDP argued that tools such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) have become critical safeguards rather than optional innovations, as they help reduce human error and limit opportunities for manipulation during the collation and transmission of results.
The party stated that many senators, members of the public and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) appear aligned in support of reforms that would enhance transparency. It commended INEC’s leadership for what it described as a commitment to credible and integrity-driven electoral processes.
However, the SDP warned against what it termed the influence of a “self-serving cabal” within the Senate leadership, insisting that the proposed Electoral Act 2026 must contain an unambiguous provision mandating real-time electronic transmission of results by presiding officers at polling units.
Reaffirming its confidence in INEC’s technical capacity to transmit results electronically, the party called on citizens and civil society groups to remain vigilant and advocate reforms that would prevent a repeat of the controversies that trailed the 2023 elections ahead of the 2027 general polls.
