Shagari warns Nigeria not to rush e-transmission of election results amid power and infrastructure challenges
Former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Mukhtar Shagari, has advised caution over the real-time electronic transmission of election results in Nigeria, citing infrastructural and logistical challenges.
Also read: Rivers CJ Rejects Panel to Probe Fubara, Deputy
Shagari made the remarks on Friday during an interview with Arise Television, in the wake of the Senate’s decision to reject a proposed amendment to Clause 60, sub-section 3 of the Electoral Amendment Bill, which sought to make electronic transmission compulsory.
“E-transmission of election results is good. But this is done in countries that have the necessary infrastructure,” Shagari said.
“In Nigeria, we must admit that we have a lot of challenges. Electricity is unreliable, and transmission services are inconsistent. We should not rush into real-time transmission.”
He further drew comparisons with the United States, noting that even a country with over 200 years of democratic experience has faced difficulties in transmitting results accurately.
“America could not have a perfect election even with advanced technology, let alone Nigeria,” Shagari added.
The former Deputy Governor emphasised that Nigeria should focus on improving the electoral process to ensure reliability and transparency, rather than hastily adopting technology that the nation’s infrastructure may not fully support.
Also read: Deputy Speaker Kalu Calls for Unity, APC Support in Abia
Shagari’s comments add to ongoing debates on electoral reforms and technological integration in Nigeria’s elections, highlighting the need for careful planning before implementing electronic transmission nationwide.
