Nigeria Not Ready for Real-Time Election Result Transmission — Shagari Sparks National Debate
Former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Mukhtar Shagari, has said Nigeria should not be in a hurry to implement real-time electronic transmission of election results, arguing that the country still faces significant structural and technological challenges that could undermine the process.
Shagari made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, amid ongoing national discussions surrounding the Electoral Amendment Bill and the Senate’s position on electronic transmission of election results. The controversy intensified earlier in the week after the Senate reportedly rejected a proposal to make electronic transmission of election results compulsory under Clause 60, subsection 3 of the bill.
According to Shagari, while electronic transmission of results is a positive development, Nigeria must first address its infrastructural limitations before attempting full implementation. He noted that countries currently using such systems have the necessary technological and logistical support, something he believes Nigeria still lacks.
“E-transmission of election results is good,” Shagari said during the interview. “But this is done in countries that have the necessary things available to transmit. In Nigeria, we must admit that we have a lot of challenges.”
He pointed to inconsistent electricity supply, weak telecommunications infrastructure, and broader systemic issues as factors that could complicate real-time transmission during elections. Shagari emphasized that these limitations could lead to disputes or technical failures if electronic transmission is made mandatory without adequate preparation.
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“We must acknowledge that we have challenges in electricity. We have challenges even in transmission of television services and other communication systems,” he said. “So I believe that we should not be in a hurry to start transmitting election results real time.”
The former deputy governor also argued that Nigeria should focus on improving the overall credibility and organization of its electoral system before introducing advanced technological processes. According to him, the country is still refining its democratic processes and should prioritize strengthening existing mechanisms.
“We should try to make sure that we perfect our elections because we still have problems as far as our elections are concerned. We are learning,” he added.
To support his position, Shagari referenced electoral challenges experienced in advanced democracies such as the United States, noting that even countries with long-standing democratic traditions and strong technological infrastructure still encounter difficulties with election result transmission.
“Even America, with over 200 years of democracy, is still having problems in transmitting election results. It happened during the administration of President George Bush,” he said. “So America, with all its experience in elections and technology, could not have a perfect election when it comes to transmission of results, let alone Nigeria.”
However, his comments have generated intense reactions among Nigerians, particularly on social media platforms, where many citizens expressed disagreement with his assessment. Critics argue that delaying real-time transmission could weaken electoral transparency and leave room for manipulation during manual collation of results.
Supporters of electronic transmission maintain that adopting the technology would enhance credibility, reduce disputes, and align Nigeria with global best practices in election management. Some observers also note that several African countries have already introduced forms of electronic result transmission, suggesting that Nigeria has the capacity to do the same with proper planning and investment.
Others, however, agree with Shagari’s cautious approach, insisting that implementing real-time transmission without reliable infrastructure could disenfranchise voters in remote areas with limited connectivity. They argue that a phased or hybrid approach may be more realistic, allowing Nigeria to gradually build the required systems before making electronic transmission compulsory nationwide.
As debates continue, the issue remains central to Nigeria’s broader electoral reform efforts ahead of future elections. With lawmakers, political parties, and citizens divided over the path forward, the question of whether Nigeria is ready for real-time transmission of election results is likely to remain a major topic in the country’s political discourse.