Yiaga Africa raises fears over 2027 elections credibility – Yiaga Africa
By Idun Maximus
Yiaga Africa, a non-profit organisation promoting democratic governance, human rights, and civic participation across Africa, has expressed fears and concerns that the 2027 general elections may lack legitimacy and credibility if the Senate fails to include the real-time electronic transmission of election results and other proposed reforms in the 2025 electoral bill.
Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Mr. Samson Itodo, told journalists at a press conference in Abuja, on Monday, that the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Nigeria have vowed to resist attempts and plots by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and other unnamed Senators to frustrate the effort to have a peaceful and credible elections in 2027.
He said: “With respect to the provision on electronic transmission of results, we strongly recommend that the committee adopt the House of Representatives’ position mandating electronic transmission, with a modification addressing technological specificity.
“As currently drafted, explicit reference to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing (IReV) portal creates potential rigidity. Since electoral technology evolves, statutory references to specific platforms require legislative amendment each time technological infrastructure changes.
“This approach aligns with the existing Electoral Act provisions regarding the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which permits ‘BVAS or any other technological device’ for accreditation, establishing a precedent for technology-neutral legal frameworks that combine mandatory obligations with implementation flexibility.
“We, hereby, propose modification to Clause 60(3) which states that a designated election official shall electronically transmit all election results in real time, including the number of accredited voters, directly from the polling units and collation centres to a public portal and the transmitted result shall be used to verify any other result before it is collated.
“But there’s the need to explain what ‘real-time’ electronic transmission means, so that many people can understand and follow the discussion properly. Real-time electronic transmission of results means sending the official polling unit results recorded on Form EC8A electronically from the polling unit directly to a central results portal immediately after voting has ended, ballots have been counted, and the results have been publicly announced at the polling unit.
“This transmission happens in the presence of party agents, observers, and voters at the polling unit. It ensures that the exact results recorded at the polling unit are uploaded and available for public verification before they are physically transported for collation. Real-time transmission creates an electronic copy of the result at the point where it is first declared.
Real-time does not mean automatic transmission of votes as voters cast their ballots nor does it mean electronic collation of results. It’s important that we make the clarification.”
Mr. Itodo thus asked INEC to immediately release the timetable for the 2027 general elections using the 2022 Electoral Act, perhaps, leaving the room open for amendments when the new Electoral Bill (2025) is signed.
He said the delay in concluding the electoral amendment introduces legal uncertainty that may compromise preparations for the 2027 elections, thus making reference to Section 28 (1) Electoral Act 2022 which empowers INEC to issue notice of elections 360 days before the date of election.
He said the legal uncertainty created by ongoing amendments has apparently deterred INEC from releasing the timetable for the 2027 elections, placing the Commission in potential violation of the extant law.
“Nevertheless, the 2022 Electoral Act remains operative until amended. The unknown status of the Electoral Bill does not suspend INEC’s statutory obligations. INEC’s established policy framework schedules general elections for the third Saturday of February in the election year, a convention designed to provide certainty for electoral stakeholders, facilitate systematic planning, and accommodate potential contingencies such as re-runs, run-off elections, and post-election litigation.
“Applying this framework to the 2027 cycle yields an election date of February 20th, 2027, requiring notice issuance by February 24, 2026. We urge INEC to issue the election timetable and schedule for the 2027 general election in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 without further delay.
“This action would fulfil statutory obligations and insulate the Commission from legal challenge, provide political parties, candidates, and civil society with certainty necessary for systematic preparation; and establish baseline timelines that subsequent amendments can modify through transitional provisions if necessary.
“Indefinite postponement of notice issuance pending legislative resolution creates a vacuum that compounds administrative challenges and legal vulnerabilities,” he noted.
