Nigeria should embrace transparency, not retreat from it.‬
‪By; Prof. Oby Lilian Orogbu‬

Fellow Nigerians,

I wish to express my deep concern and outright condemnation of the recent amendment to the Electoral Act passed by the Senate. This decision, particularly the rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results, represents a dangerous step backward for our democracy.

The people of Awka North and South, whom I proudly represent, deserve elections that are transparent, credible, and beyond manipulation. By refusing to embrace electronic transmission, the Senate has chosen opacity over accountability. This undermines the trust of citizens and weakens the very foundation of our democratic process.

Furthermore, the reduction of INEC’s timeline to publish election notices from 360 to 180 days is another blow to electoral preparedness. It constrains the commission’s ability to plan effectively and opens the door to logistical failures that could compromise the integrity of future elections.

I stand firmly with civil society organizations, opposition parties, and millions of Nigerians who believe that our electoral laws must strengthen democracy, not weaken it. We cannot afford to enter the 2027 elections with legislation that encourages suspicion and erodes confidence in INEC.

It is our collective duty in the National Assembly to strengthen democracy, not weaken it. we must revisit this amendment to protect the integrity of our democracy.

-POLO