Obi’s Ex-Marketing campaign DG Slams Senate Rejection Of E-Transmission Of Election Outcomes

A former Director-Common of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Marketing campaign Council, Mr Akin Osuntokun, says the Senate’s rejection of digital transmission of election outcomes doesn’t portend nicely for the expansion of Nigeria’s democracy.

Osuntokun, who just lately joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), spoke on Friday in Lagos.

He was reacting to the Senate’s resolution to exclude digital transmission of outcomes from the Electoral Act Modification Invoice 2026 handed on Wednesday.

“It (Rejection of e-transmission of election outcomes) doesn’t portend good omen, it doesn’t portend good for the expansion of democracy in Nigeria.

“The expansion of democracy is rooted in accountability and the integrity of elections.

“So something that makes elections much less accountable makes the election much less credible. Mechanically, it’s a drag and an obstruction of the expansion of democracy in Nigeria.

“It doesn’t serve the aim of democratic consolidation, as far as the elections which can be carried out on that foundation is not going to meet the bar or threshold of credible election,” Osuntokun advised NAN.

He described the transfer as suspicious and logically linked to potential manipulation of elections.

Osuntokun added: “The logical interpretation of what they’ve completed is that they wish to search for avenues or contrive avenues the place the elections may be manipulated.

“That’s the logical interpretation of what they’ve completed.”

Osuntokun stated there was no convincing clarification or justification for rejecting digital transmission.

He added: “What’s the clarification? There isn’t any tenable clarification for what they’ve completed.

“Utilizing the e-transmission makes the election or the counting of votes much less inclined to handbook interference within the outcomes which can be declared.

“So, what now we have been advised is that any instrument, any intervention that can make the election much less amenable to manipulation, they don’t want it.”

Osuntokun, nevertheless, expressed doubt that the choice would discourage voter turnout in future elections.

He stated voters had been nonetheless prone to take part, however would turn into extra vigilant.

Osuntokun stated: “So, what individuals will do after they go to vote is to bodily stay there.

“They are going to present as a lot as potential that the votes which can be counted are credible and are votes that had been duly forged.”

He warned that mistrust in regards to the electoral course of may set off stress at collation centres.

“If voters have this type of mentality and have this mistrust that the system is being intentionally manipulated, it should provoke anger, suspicion, indignation and invite bodily interference of voters

“Nevertheless, I don’t suppose that it’ll have an effect on turnout.

“It’ll simply make them extra indignant. It’ll foster a whole lot of indignation.

“It’s potential that the voters react with indignation. Participation could also be extra aggressive to make sure that their vote counts,” he added.

The Senate had on Wednesday handed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Modification Invoice 2026 after the third studying.

The higher legislative chamber, nevertheless, rejected a proposed modification to Clause 60, Subsection 3 of the invoice, which sought to make the digital transmission of election outcomes necessary.

Lawmakers opposed the proposal, citing technical and logistical considerations round its implementation nationwide.