Former Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, on Thursday condemned the Senate’s rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results, describing it as a deliberate attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi, who said in a statement that his decision to comment on the electoral issue was delayed by the tragic killing of over 150 people in communities in Kwara State, called for prayers for the victims just as he described the incident as another painful reminder of Nigeria’s deep governance crisis.
Stating that the Senate’s vote was “outrageous and shameful,” the former Governor of Anambra State argued that the refusal to make electronic transmission compulsory removes a critical safeguard for credible elections.
According to him, the controversies and disputes that characterised previous elections, particularly the 2023 general election, were largely due to the failure to fully implement electronic transmission of results.
Dismissing claims of technical “glitches” during the last elections as fabricated excuses, Obi noted that several African countries have successfully adopted electronic transmission to strengthen their democracies.
He warned that resistance to electoral reform by political leaders and the elite is dragging Nigeria backwards. He said the rejection of transparency measures entrenches disorder and creates room for manipulation by a small group acting in its own interests, rather than for the good of the country.
Obi also recalled past remarks by foreign leaders who described Nigeria as corrupt or disgraced, noting that continued opposition to reform only reinforces such perceptions. He cautioned that electoral malpractice like that witnessed in 2023 must not be repeated in 2027, stressing that Nigerians must be prepared to legitimately resist any attempt to undermine their democratic rights.
He further urged the international community to pay attention to what he described as early signs of planned future electoral manipulation, warning that such actions pose serious risks to Nigeria’s democracy and development.
Reaffirming his long-held message, Obi concluded by saying that a new Nigeria remains possible, but only if citizens collectively stand up to defend transparency, justice, and credible governance.
