Former Kogi West Senator and prominent African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Senator Dino Melaye Esq, has strongly criticised the Senate for rejecting proposals to make automatic electronic transmission of election results mandatory in the Electoral Act, describing the decision as a “clear endorsement of election rigging.”
In a pointed statement released on Friday, February 6, 2026, and widely circulated on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Melaye accused the upper chamber of deliberately undermining the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process and creating fertile ground for manipulation, fraud, and result alteration.
“The Senate’s refusal to entrench mandatory electronic transmission of election results is not just a legislative oversight; it is a clear endorsement of election rigging,” Melaye declared. “This decision opens the door wide for manipulation at collation centres—the most vulnerable stage of our electoral process—and sends a dangerous signal that the will of the people can still be subverted with impunity.”
The outspoken former lawmaker, who served as Senator representing Kogi West from 2015 to 2019, warned that the move marks a “significant step backward” for Nigeria’s democracy at a time when public confidence in the electoral system remains fragile following controversies in the 2023 general elections and several off-cycle polls.
Melaye stressed that electronic transmission—particularly real-time upload of results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV)—is a proven mechanism used in many democracies to enhance transparency, reduce human interference, and minimise opportunities for tampering. He argued that maintaining discretionary or optional transmission effectively preserves the status quo of manual collation, which has repeatedly been linked to allegations of ballot stuffing, mutilation of result sheets, intimidation of party agents, and outright falsification of figures.
“Lawmakers and citizens must stand up against this blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people,” Melaye urged. “We must ensure that future elections are free, fair, and transparent. If this matter is not addressed decisively, the consequences for our democracy will be dire.”
The former senator’s remarks have ignited widespread debate across Nigeria, particularly on social media and among political commentators. Many citizens and civil society groups have echoed his concerns, warning that the Senate’s position could deepen public distrust in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections. Some have argued that failing to mandate electronic transmission risks perpetuating a system where election outcomes can be contested for years, leading to prolonged legal battles, political instability, and voter apathy.
Others have expressed frustration that Nigeria continues to lag behind several African countries—including Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Namibia—that have successfully implemented electronic result transmission to varying degrees, often with hybrid offline-online systems to address connectivity challenges.
The controversy stems from ongoing efforts to amend the Electoral Act 2022. While the House of Representatives has reportedly shown more openness to strengthening provisions for electronic transmission, the Senate has consistently resisted making it mandatory, citing concerns over network coverage in rural areas, cybersecurity risks, and the need to preserve INEC’s operational discretion.
Critics of the Senate’s stance, including Melaye, have dismissed these objections as outdated, noting that INEC already deploys the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter verification and has demonstrated the capacity for electronic uploads in previous elections. They argue that hybrid solutions—where results are captured offline and synchronized later—can effectively address infrastructure gaps.
Melaye’s intervention adds significant weight to the campaign for electoral reform, given his longstanding reputation as a vocal critic of perceived anti-democratic practices and his influence within political circles. His statement has been widely shared and quoted, amplifying calls for the National Assembly to revisit the issue before the next election cycle.
As Nigeria approaches 2027, the debate over electronic transmission is expected to intensify, with reform advocates insisting that credible, verifiable elections are essential to sustaining democratic legitimacy and preventing post-election violence. The Senate has yet to issue an official response to Melaye’s criticism, but pressure continues to mount from citizens, civil society organisations, and other political figures demanding greater transparency and integrity in the country’s electoral framework.
