SDP Warns Against Senate Resistance to Real-Time Election Result Transmission

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has called on Nigerians to resist moves by Senate leadership that it says undermine efforts to mandate the real-time electronic transmission of election results. The party warned that delaying such reforms could erode public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

SDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, issued the statement on Friday in Abuja as the 10th Senate continues deliberations on amendments to the Electoral Act.

In a release titled “SDP Stands With Nigerians to Demand Transparent and Modern Elections,” Aiyenigba accused the Senate leadership of ignoring the will of Nigerians, which was expressed during nationwide public hearings on the proposed Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2026.

“The SDP is alarmed by the leadership’s resistance to positive electoral reforms,” Aiyenigba said. “Their actions risk blocking Nigerians’ demand for a clear legislative framework that ensures election results are transmitted in real-time, a critical step toward credible elections.”

The party stressed that the majority of Nigerians had advocated during the 2025 public hearings for reforms to prevent a repeat of the credibility challenges seen in the 2023 general elections. SDP highlighted the importance of technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in safeguarding electoral integrity, reducing errors, and eliminating manipulation linked to manual result transportation.

Aiyenigba noted that opposition to electronic result transmission does not represent the views of the majority of lawmakers or the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which he described as reform-oriented under current leadership.

He warned that “self-serving groups within the Senate must not be allowed to derail democratic reforms.” The party insisted that the new Electoral Act must clearly mandate real-time electronic transmission of results by polling unit officers to prevent legal loopholes and manipulation in future elections.

SDP also lauded INEC for having the technical capacity and infrastructure to transmit results in real-time and urged citizens, civil society organizations, and pro-democracy advocates to remain vigilant against actions that could weaken transparency.

The party warned that Nigeria cannot risk a repeat of the controversies that affected the credibility of the 2023 elections and called for proactive measures to safeguard the integrity of the 2027 polls.

The debate over electronic transmission stems from the Electoral Act 2022, which allowed INEC discretion in transmitting results. Reform advocates are now pushing for mandatory real-time transmission to ensure transparency and public trust.