Former Minister of Education and public policy advocate, Oby Ezekwesili, has strongly criticised the Senate over its amendment to Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act, describing the move as a “coup against our democracy and the Nigerian people.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ezekwesili accused the upper legislative chamber of weakening transparency in the electoral process by attaching conditions to the electronic transmission of election results.
“The Senate committed a coup against our democracy and the Nigerian people yesterday,” she said. “Let me again remind the Senators that it is not wise to play with fire. It simply is not wise. Transparency is always better.”
She maintained that Nigerians are demanding a clear and unconditional legal framework mandating real-time electronic transmission of results directly from polling units.
“My fellow citizens, let nobody deceive or confuse you,” she stated. “What all well-meaning Nigerians want passed by the National Assembly as INEC reform is a Bill which legally mandates electronic transmission of polling units results in real time and without any conditions attached.”
Ezekwesili cited the version of the clause earlier passed by the House of Representatives, which provides that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “shall electronically transmit election results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal in real time and such transmission shall be done simultaneously with the physical collation of results.”
“Period! No ifs, no buts, no whataboutism and no provisos,” she stressed.
The former minister expressed concern over the Senate’s addition of a proviso stating that where electronic transmission fails or becomes impossible, the signed Form EC8A would serve as the primary source of election results.
She warned that the new provision poses a serious threat to electoral transparency and could erode public confidence in the democratic process.
“The proviso the Senate added to Clause 60(3) is a grave danger to our democracy. It will permanently damage the same transparency that we as citizens are demanding for in all our election results,” she said.
According to Ezekwesili, real-time electronic transmission at each polling unit would significantly reduce opportunities for electoral manipulation.
“Transparency through electronic transmission of results in real time at each polling unit will end their opportunity to rig our elections,” she added.
She further alleged that the Senate’s position could undermine Nigeria’s democratic foundations and governance outcomes, urging citizens to remain vigilant and defend their right to transparent elections.
“We, the citizens of Nigeria and not politicians, are the real owners of democracy. We must collectively stand to defend our rights to transparency,” she declared.
