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Nigeria’s electoral reform debate intensified on Tuesday as the NAFESOJE Empowerment Foundation and the Alliance of National Civil Society Organisations (ANCSOs) jointly issued a strong call for the compulsory real-time electronic transmission of election results, describing it as a non-negotiable requirement for credible elections and democratic stability in the country.

In a joint press release signed by the President of NAFESOJE Empowerment Foundation, Hon. Nnaemeka Aleke, and the Assistant National Secretary of ANCSOs, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, the organisations warned the Senate and other legislative authorities against any attempt to weaken or dilute provisions that mandate electronic transmission of election results.

The groups declared their “strong support for the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in Nigeria as a non-negotiable pillar for safeguarding electoral integrity, strengthening public confidence in the democratic process, and consolidating Nigeria’s fragile democratic gains.”

Positioning themselves as frontline stakeholders in the promotion of transparent governance and credible electoral processes, the organisations cautioned that any legislative hesitation or resistance to mandatory electronic transmission would be interpreted as an attack on the democratic aspirations of Nigerians.

According to the coalition, “any legislative hesitation, resistance, or attempt to dilute provisions that guarantee mandatory electronic transmission of election results” would amount to “a direct affront to the collective democratic aspirations of the Nigerian people.”

The civil society organisations reminded members of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, of their constitutional responsibility to represent the interests of citizens rather than personal or partisan interests. The statement stressed that lawmakers must recognize their duty to uphold the will of the electorate.

“It is imperative to remind members of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that their constitutional mandate is fundamentally representative,” the statement noted. “Nigerian lawmakers were elected to articulate, defend, and advance the will and interests of the electorate, not to substitute personal or partisan preferences for the overwhelming demands of citizens who entrusted them with legislative authority.”

The coalition further emphasized that democracy thrives on the supremacy of the majority will and warned that any legislative maneuver capable of undermining that principle would weaken governance legitimacy and erode public trust in democratic institutions.

Citing widespread support for electronic transmission of election results across the country, the organisations described the reform as a strategic safeguard against election malpractice, including result manipulation, ballot fraud, and prolonged post-election disputes.

They stated, “Across Nigeria, citizens, civil society organisations, election observers, development partners, and democratic advocates have consistently expressed overwhelming support for mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results. This demand is not merely a technological preference but a strategic safeguard against electoral manipulation, result alteration, ballot fraud, and post-election disputes that have historically undermined Nigeria’s democratic stability.”

Highlighting the operational benefits of electronic transmission, the groups noted that the system would enhance transparency by enabling immediate public verification of election outcomes, reduce opportunities for manual interference during results collation, strengthen the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and align Nigeria with international democratic best practices.

They warned that making electronic transmission optional would entrench electoral opacity and perpetuate systemic weaknesses that have historically plagued Nigeria’s elections.

“Any attempt to weaken or render discretionary the transmission of election results amounts to institutionalizing opacity and sustaining the systemic vulnerabilities that have plagued Nigeria’s electoral history,” the organisations stated.

The coalition issued what it described as a firm and patriotic warning that the overwhelming demand by Nigerians for mandatory electronic transmission must not be compromised.

“We therefore issue a firm and patriotic warning that the clearly expressed majority decision of Nigerians in favour of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results must not be subverted, diluted, or sacrificed on the altar of political expediency by the Senate or any other legislative authority,” the statement declared, adding that “the Nigerian electorate remains the ultimate sovereign in a democratic system, and their collective voice must not be silenced through legislative technicalities or procedural manipulations.”

The groups also linked electoral credibility to broader national development concerns, warning that weakened electoral transparency could trigger political instability and damage Nigeria’s international standing.

“Electoral credibility is directly linked to national stability, investor confidence, political legitimacy, and citizen participation in governance,” they stated, cautioning that any policy capable of weakening electoral transparency could aggravate political tensions and erode public confidence in democratic institutions.

The organisations therefore urged lawmakers to prioritize national interest by enshrining mandatory electronic transmission of election results into Nigeria’s electoral legal framework without ambiguity or discretionary loopholes.

“The NAFESOJE Empowerment Foundation and ANCSOs therefore call on all patriotic lawmakers to rise above partisan considerations and align themselves with the progressive aspirations of Nigerians by enshrining mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results into the nation’s electoral legal framework without ambiguity, compromise, or discretionary loopholes,” the statement read.

Beyond legislative advocacy, the coalition also called on citizens and key societal stakeholders to remain vigilant and sustain peaceful advocacy for electoral reforms that protect the integrity of the ballot.

“We also call on citizens, youth groups, professional bodies, religious organisations, labour unions, and pro-democracy movements to remain vigilant and continue to peacefully advocate for electoral reforms that guarantee the sanctity of the ballot and protect the sovereignty of the Nigerian voter,” the organisations said.

Reaffirming their commitment to democratic accountability, the coalition concluded that Nigeria must urgently strengthen its electoral system to guarantee credible governance outcomes.

“Nigeria’s democracy must not only survive; it must evolve into a system where every vote counts, every result reflects the true will of the people, and every electoral process commands public confidence. The time to secure that future is now,” the statement concluded.