SDP criticises Senate for resisting real-time result transmission
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has criticised the Senate leadership for opposing clear legislative backing for real-time electronic transmission of election results. The party, through its National Publicity Secretary Rufus Aiyenigba, warned that resistance to reform could undermine public trust. The SDP highlighted the importance of technological tools like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal for electoral transparency. The party urged Nigerians and civil society to remain vigilant against any moves that could weaken election integrity.
Key takeaways
- Rufus Aiyenigba accused Senate leaders of resisting popular demands for real-time electronic result transmission during ongoing Electoral Act amendment debates.
- The SDP stated that Nigerians had clearly called for reform during public hearings and referenced credibility issues from the 2023 general elections.
- The party argued that most senators and the new INEC leadership support stronger transparency measures.
- The SDP warned that “self-serving cabals” in the Senate must not derail democratic reforms and called for an unambiguous legal mandate for electronic result transmission.
- Opposition parties and civil society are pushing to remove discretionary language from the proposed Electoral Act 2026 to ensure real-time electronic transmission is a legal requirement.
