By Olokuta Rofiat
A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Mustapha Lecky, has said Nigeria is not yet legally or technically prepared to implement real-time electronic transmission of election results ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Lecky said while technology remains important for improving the electoral process, Nigeria’s current infrastructure, legal framework and political environment are still inadequate to guarantee secure, real-time transmission of results from polling units.
He warned that adopting the system prematurely could create more problems than it solves.
His remarks come amid controversy surrounding the Electoral Act Amendment Bill at the National Assembly.
The Senate recently rejected a proposal seeking to mandate real-time uploading of results from polling units, a decision that has sparked widespread debate.
Critics, including civil society groups and electoral reform advocates, argue that clear statutory provisions for instant result transmission are necessary to strengthen transparency and public confidence.
However, Lecky maintained that network limitations, legal gaps and logistical challenges must first be addressed before the country can successfully deploy real-time electronic result transmission nationwide.
