Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has called for a legal amendment to make the electronic transmission of election results mandatory in Nigeria.
Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday during a Democracy Day programme organised by The Covenant Nation, Jega argued that removing ambiguity in the Electoral Act would strengthen transparency and reduce electoral malpractice. He emphasised that the current law grants INEC discretionary power over the method of result transmission, a loophole that was exploited during the contentious 2023 general elections.
“The legal framework must be amended to clearly mandate electronic transmission of results,” Jega said. “This will enhance transparency, ensure more integrity in our electoral process, and boost public confidence.”
He also called for transparent and inclusive testing of electoral technologies, with active involvement from civil society groups to build trust in the system ahead of future elections.
In addition to electoral reforms, Jega recommended a restructuring of the National Assembly, including the adoption of a part-time legislature and a reduction in the number of lawmakers. According to him, this would help reduce the cost of governance and allow more resources to be channelled toward development.
Jega, who led INEC from 2010 to 2015 and conducted two of Nigeria’s most credible elections, was recently appointed Special Adviser on Livestock Reforms by President Bola Tinubu.
His renewed call for reform comes amid lingering concerns over the credibility of Nigeria’s elections, particularly following the 2023 polls, which faced criticism over result transmission and transparency.
