INEC Ex-Commissioner Questions Real-Time Transmission of Results, Triggers National Debate on Electoral Reform

A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mustapha Lecky, has reignited the national conversation on electoral reforms after faulting growing calls for the real-time electronic transmission of election results in Nigeria. Speaking on Friday during Channels Television’s Politics Today, Lecky argued that Nigeria is neither legally nor technically prepared to implement instantaneous transmission of results under its current electoral framework.

His comments followed widespread public criticism of the Senate’s recent decision to reject an amendment to Section 60 of the Electoral Act, 2022, which would have made real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units to INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) Portal mandatory. The Senate’s stance has intensified public suspicion about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, especially in the aftermath of controversies surrounding past elections.

Lecky maintained that demands for real-time transmission were fundamentally flawed because Nigeria still operates a manual voting system. According to him, the logic of instant electronic transmission presupposes the existence of electronic voting, which the country has not adopted.

“It doesn’t really make sense to be talking about instantaneous transmission of results live as voting is happening,” he said. “We do not conduct electronic voting anywhere in Nigeria, and we are very far away from that.”

He explained that under the current system, voters cast paper ballots which must be counted openly at polling units in the presence of party agents and observers. Only after this process is completed are results recorded on Form EC8A, signed by all relevant stakeholders, and then eligible for upload.

Lecky insisted that this procedure already provides a degree of transparency and accountability, arguing that pushing for real-time transmission ignores both the legal realities and operational challenges of elections in Nigeria. He further described calls for mandatory instant transmission as “baseless,” pointing to infrastructural limitations such as poor internet connectivity in many rural and remote communities.

“For electronic transmission, we are not ready. We are not technically ready,” he said, warning that nationwide implementation without adequate preparation could lead to system failures and undermine confidence in the electoral process.

Beyond infrastructure, Lecky also raised concerns about cybersecurity, cautioning that Nigeria’s digital systems remain vulnerable to cyberattacks. He argued that even advanced democracies continue to grapple with challenges around electronic voting and result transmission, suggesting that Nigeria must proceed cautiously.

“We have to learn from more mature democracies where these systems are still evolving,” he noted. “Our democracy is still developing, and rushing into this without safeguards could do more harm than good.”

However, his remarks have drawn sharp criticism from large sections of the public, civil society groups, and political commentators. Many Nigerians argue that the demand is not necessarily for electronic voting, but for immediate electronic upload of results after manual counting at polling units. They believe this would drastically reduce manipulation during result collation at ward, local government, and state levels.

Critics insist that once Form EC8A is completed and signed, uploading a snapshot of the document to the IReV Portal from the polling unit should be mandatory. According to them, such a step would serve as a digital verifier for the physical results and strengthen the credibility of elections, especially during post-election litigation.

Several commentators have questioned why Nigeria can successfully run real-time banking transactions, online examinations, and large-scale digital platforms, yet claim to be unprepared for electronic transmission of election results. Others argue that the reluctance to embrace mandatory transmission is politically motivated and designed to preserve opportunities for result manipulation.

Despite the backlash, Lecky urged INEC to focus on improving existing technologies rather than pursuing what he considers premature reforms. He called for the optimisation of tools such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the IReV Portal, stressing that when properly deployed, they can significantly enhance transparency.

“What we need to do is to rely on what is currently available and make sure it works perfectly,” he said. “And it can work perfectly.”

As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, the debate over real-time transmission underscores broader questions about trust, technology, and political will. While opinions remain sharply divided, there is growing consensus that credible elections are central to democratic stability. Whether through gradual reform or bold innovation, many Nigerians believe the electoral system must evolve to ensure that every vote truly counts.