According to the rights group, the refusal to legally compel electronic transmission of results represents a preference for uncertainty over clarity in a system already burdened by public distrust. Nigeria’s electoral history, CDHR notes, is replete with allegations of manipulation, violence, and result falsification, making transparency not just desirable but essential. In this context, the absence of a clear legal guarantee for real-time electronic transmission raises concerns about the credibility of future elections.
CDHR has also dismissed arguments that granting discretion to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is sufficient to safeguard electoral integrity. The group maintains that democratic protections must be firmly rooted in law rather than dependent on administrative discretion or institutional goodwill. Where safeguards are optional, CDHR argues, abuse becomes possible, and public confidence in the process is inevitably weakened.
The organization views the Senate’s decision as anti-democratic and dismissive of the aspirations of millions of Nigerians who continue to demand credible elections and transparent governance. It warns that the move comes at a particularly sensitive time, as citizens grapple with economic hardship, rising insecurity, and growing political exclusion. Undermining trust in the electoral process under such conditions, CDHR says, risks deepening public frustration and alienation from the democratic system.
Beyond its immediate implications, CDHR cautions that decisions perceived as weakening electoral integrity could provoke widespread civic resistance. While reiterating its commitment to peaceful and lawful engagement, the group emphasizes that Nigerians have a fundamental right to defend their votes and protect democracy through sustained civic action.
In light of these concerns, CDHR has called on the National Assembly to urgently reconsider its position and enact legislation that makes electronic transmission of election results mandatory. The group also urged civil society organizations, labour unions, student movements, and pro-democracy advocates to mobilize against any attempts to dilute electoral transparency. Nigerians, it added, must remain vigilant, organized, and actively engaged in the democratic process.
For CDHR, the principle at stake is clear: democracy cannot rest on discretion alone. To endure and command public trust, the will of the people must be clearly protected and enforced by law.