The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has faulted the decision of the Nigerian Senate to reject an amendment that would make real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory.

The committee, in a statement on Friday in Abakaliki signed by its national president, Debo Adeniran, and publicity secretary, Jeremiah Onyibe, respectively, described the move as a setback for democratic accountability and electoral transparency.

The organisation added that the Senate’s action undermined the right of Nigerians to freely elect their leaders and weakened public confidence in the electoral process.

According to CDHR, the refusal to legally compel electronic transmission of results amounted to choosing “ambiguity over transparency” in a country with a long history of disputed elections, electoral violence and allegations of results manipulation.

The group argued that without a clear legal guarantee for real-time electronic transmission, the credibility of future elections remained at risk, noting that discretionary provisions could easily be abused or ignored.

CDHR dismissed claims that granting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) discretionary powers was sufficient to safeguard elections, stressing that democratic protections should be firmly rooted in law rather than left to administrative goodwill.

It urged the apex law-making body to rescind its decision on allowing INEC discretionary powers on transmission of voting results.

The group added that making real-time transmission of election results legally mandatory would stem voter apathy and enhance the integrity of the electoral process.

“Laws are meant to protect the people and secure the integrity of the democratic process; any procedure that could be set aside at will will create opportunities for manipulation,” the group said.

The rights body described the senate’s decision as anti-democratic and insensitive to the aspirations of millions of Nigerians who were demanding transparent governance, credible elections and accountable leadership.

It warned that at a time when citizens were grappling with economic hardship, insecurity and political exclusion, any action capable of undermining electoral integrity could further heighten public frustration and distrust.

CDHR also cautioned that weakening electoral safeguards could provoke widespread resistance, stressing that Nigerians had the constitutional right to defend their votes and democracy through lawful and peaceful civic engagement.

The group called on the National Assembly to urgently revisit the rejected amendment and ensure that mandatory electronic transmission of election results was clearly enshrined in the nation’s electoral laws.

It also urged civil society organisations, labour unions, student groups and other pro-democracy bodies to mobilise against what it “described as attempts to erode electoral transparency”.

In addition, CDHR appealed to Nigerians to remain vigilant, organised and committed to defending democracy through peaceful protests and sustained civic participation.

The organisation emphasised that democracy could not thrive on discretion alone, insisting that the will of the people must be protected by clear, enforceable legal provisions.

It reiterated that credible elections were fundamental to political stability, good governance and national development and warned lawmakers against actions that could lead to avoidable political tension.

The group maintained that strengthening electoral laws, rather than weakening them, was essential for restoring trust in democratic institutions and ensuring that election outcomes truly reflected the choices of the electorate.

It said that sustained reforms would promote peace, inclusion, accountability and citizen confidence in governance, while reinforcing Nigeria’s democratic culture and constitutional order nationwide.

The Senate at Wednesday’s plenary during the Electoral Act amendment voted to retain, as it were, in the 2022 Electoral Act, the transmission of votes based on the discretion of INEC. 

(NAN)