Years After facing accusations of overseeing a compromised 2015 presidential election, Ex-INEC Chairman Jega calls for mandatory electronic transmission of results

Years After facing accusations of overseeing a compromised 2015 presidential election, Ex-INEC Chairman Jega calls for mandatory electronic transmission of results

 

 

 

 

A decade after facing accusations of overseeing a compromised presidential election in 2015, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has called for sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s electoral process, including the mandatory electronic transmission of election results.

 

Jega made the call on Wednesday while speaking at The Platform, a civic engagement forum hosted by The Covenant Nation in Lagos to mark Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

 

The event, held in the Iganmu area, drew high-profile attendees including former government officials and civil society leaders.

 

“There is a need for an increase in the use of technology for elections to promote transparency and accountability,” Jega said during his keynote address. “The Electoral Act should be amended to make the electronic transmission of results mandatory.”

 

The remarks come amid lingering public distrust following the 2023 general elections, particularly the contentious presidential vote that ushered in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Disputes over the credibility of electronically transmitted results became central to post-election litigation, culminating in a Supreme Court ruling that left the mode of transmission to INEC’s discretion.

 

Jega, who chaired INEC from 2010 to 2015, emphasized that despite existing provisions for technology in elections, the lack of mandatory guidelines leaves room for manipulation and legal ambiguity.

 

“It is very important that there is a transparent process of civil engagement in testing this equipment before they are deployed,” he said, calling for broader public involvement and education to build trust in the system.

 

He also criticized what he described as vague clauses in the Electoral Act regarding electronic result transmission, urging lawmakers to revisit and clarify the legislation.

 

Beyond electoral reform, Jega addressed Nigeria’s governance structure, advocating for a part-time legislature to reduce the high cost of governance. He argued that the country’s bicameral National Assembly has become a financial burden on the nation’s economy.

 

“Nigeria needs part-time legislators and a reduction in the number of elected lawmakers to ease the pressure on public funds,” he said.

 

Jega’s proposals come at a time when Nigeria is grappling with deep public dissatisfaction over governance, economic challenges, and electoral credibility. His renewed push for reform may rekindle debates about the legacy of past elections and the path forward for Africa’s most populous democracy.

 

Despite the controversies that have trailed his tenure, Jega remains a prominent voice in electoral discourse. His call for mandatory electronic transmission of results signals a continued engagement with Nigeria’s democratic development — and a renewed appeal for transparency in the electoral process.