Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, has urged lawmakers to amend Nigeria’s electoral laws to make electronic transmission of election results compulsory. Speaking on June 12 at The Platform, a civic event organized by The Covenant Nation in Lagos to mark Democracy Day, Jega described electronic result transmission as essential for strengthening transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral system.
The event brought together several prominent figures, including ex-ministers, governors, and civic leaders. Jega emphasized that the current Electoral Act does not go far enough and needs specific provisions that require electronic transmission. He noted that while technology has the potential to improve elections, public trust remains low due to past experiences and concerns about transparency. He recommended that all election-related technologies be publicly tested before use to increase voter confidence.
Jega’s comments come amid ongoing debates following the 2023 general elections, especially the presidential contest that saw Bola Tinubu of the APC declared winner. The Supreme Court later ruled that INEC has the discretion to choose how it transmits results, but Jega believes this legal ambiguity must be addressed to prevent future disputes.
In addition to electoral reforms, Jega called for a major structural adjustment in the legislative arm. He proposed converting Nigeria’s full-time legislature into a part-time system at both federal and state levels. According to him, maintaining the current bicameral National Assembly consumes too many public resources. He argued that reducing the number of lawmakers and transitioning to a part-time model would significantly cut costs and ease pressure on the national budget.
