Nigeria’s democracy is once again at a crossroads, and the actions of the Senate threaten to push the nation further down a path of distrust and democratic erosion. By refusing to be forthcoming with comprehensive electoral reforms, particularly the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results, the Senate appears intent on preserving loopholes that have long undermined the will of the Nigerian people.
In an era where the Nigerian government can electronically collect taxes from citizens in real time, regardless of location, claims that secure electronic transmission of election results is impractical or susceptible to “glitches” ring hollow. Technology is not the problem; political will is. A state that can deploy sophisticated digital systems to track revenue cannot credibly argue that it lacks the capacity to transparently transmit votes, the very foundation of democratic legitimacy.
Free, fair, and credible elections are not optional accessories to democracy; they are its backbone. Any attempt to delay, dilute, or sabotage reforms that would enhance transparency only deepens public cynicism and reinforces longstanding allegations of electoral manipulation. Democracy cannot thrive where opacity is institutionalized and accountability is treated as a threat rather than a duty.
In this regard, Nigerian civil society deserves commendation for rising to the moment. Activists, advocacy groups, and concerned citizens who have taken to the streets and public forums to demand transparent elections are performing a patriotic service. Their protests are not acts of defiance against the state, but calls for the state to live up to its constitutional promise. A vibrant democracy depends on an engaged and vigilant populace, and civil society has shown courage where leadership has faltered.
The Nigerian government must now act decisively and courageously. Ending the recurring allegations of election rigging requires more than rhetoric; it demands concrete, enforceable reforms that restore public confidence in the electoral process. Mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results is not radical; it is reasonable, necessary, and long overdue.
History will judge this moment. The choice before the Senate and the government is simple: stand on the side of democratic progress, or be remembered as obstacles to it. Nigeria’s democracy deserves better, and Nigerians are right to demand it.
