Ex-INEC ICT Director, Nwafor, backs Electoral Act 2026, says IReV boosts transparency
A former Director of Information and Communication Technology at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chidi Nwafor, has expressed optimism that recent amendments to Nigeria’s electoral framework will strengthen transparency and boost public confidence in future elections.
Nwafor made the remarks on Sunday at the Citizens’ Townhall on the Electoral Act 2026 held in Abuja, where stakeholders reviewed institutional preparedness ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on the technological provisions in the revised law, he said the inclusion of the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) signals progress, saying “Technologically speaking, for me, the new Electoral Act has given us hope. In the new Electoral Act, you now have IReV in there. Whether we like it or not, we don’t have 100 per cent network coverage, we know that”.
Providing context on Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure, Nwafor explained that at the time the system was designed, the country had about 93 to 94 per cent 2G coverage, adding that current 3G coverage stands at roughly 86 to 89 per cent.
He noted that connectivity limitations do not necessarily hinder result transmission, as data can be compressed and sent via 2G networks where necessary.
According to him, the core objective of the reforms is to guarantee real-time transmission of results directly from polling units.
“You finish the election, count it, and when you finish counting, you send two pieces of information: the accredited voters and the results,” he said.
Nwafor explained that the system already enables the electronic transmission of accreditation figures alongside images of result sheets, enhancing transparency and public verification.
However, he acknowledged that network disruptions may still occur, particularly in remote areas, adding “There are two possibilities: one is that you must snap and send. The second is that it may not go because of network challenges”.
