Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has criticised the Senate over its rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results, alleging that the decision is aimed at enabling post-election manipulation.
El-Rufai made the remarks during an interview on Trust TV, expressing disappointment that he was unable to return to Nigeria in time to physically participate in a protest led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, and other opposition leaders.
“I would have joined Mr. Peter Obi and other party leaders in protesting to the National Assembly to restore the real-time and mandatory transmission of results from the polling unit,” El-Rufai said.
He maintained that electronic transmission of results remains the most effective way to curb electoral malpractice, arguing that manipulation typically occurs during the collation process rather than at polling units.
“It is the only way we can stop the manipulation that goes on in the collation centers. That is where the real rigging takes place. Rigging doesn’t happen in the polling unit; it is in the collation centers,” he stated.
The former governor lamented that although the House of Representatives had passed the provision for mandatory electronic transmission of results, the Senate was allegedly frustrating the move.
“This provision would have improved the quality of our elections. But we all know why the ruling party and the sitting government don’t want that; they know they can’t win the elections,” he alleged.
El-Rufai further claimed that manipulating results after voting provides the ruling party with its only advantage.
“The only way they have a fighting chance is to manipulate the results after people have voted,” he added.
Meanwhile, newsmen had earlier reported that protesters on Monday stormed the National Assembly in Abuja to oppose the Senate’s decision against mandatory electronic transmission of election results.
Peter Obi was seen leading the protest, calling for urgent electoral reforms to safeguard the integrity of future elections.
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