Leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum and Afenifere, Oba Oladipo Olaitan has called on the National Assembly to adopt mandatory electronic transmission of election results, citing safety and transparency concerns.
Speaking on Tuesday, Olaitan said, “Nothing can be more serious than the safety of human lives. People are killed needlessly during elections trying to snatch ballot boxes. E-transmission will prevent this.”
He added that technical glitches and rural coverage issues should not be used as excuses to block the reform, noting that Nigeria now has about 90 percent internet coverage.
“If this is the way to save democracy, we must make it work,” he said.
Olaitan also criticized political leaders for resisting reforms for personal gain, warning that failure to act would undermine public trust.
He encouraged Nigerians to engage in peaceful protests and nonviolent insistence to ensure credible elections.
“The Senate and the government know what the country wants. Nigerians must insist, and with consistent pressure, they may rethink their position,” he said.
Oba Olaitan’s intervention comes amid growing debates over Clause 60 of the Electoral Act, which deals with electronic transmission of results, following the controversies of Nigeria’s 2023 elections.
