Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has said that 90% of National Assembly members would lose their seats if Nigeria’s elections were truly transparent.
Sowore made the claim while reacting to the ongoing debate surrounding amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly the provisions on electronic transmission of election results.
On Tuesday, the Senate approved amendments allowing the electronic transmission of results, a development widely welcomed by Nigerians.
However, lawmakers retained a clause permitting manual collation in areas with poor internet connectivity, a provision critics have described as unnecessary and open to abuse.
While speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday, Sowore argued that legislators are unwilling to introduce reforms that would guarantee credible elections because such measures threaten their political survival.
He dismissed claims that network challenges justify manual collation, describing them as mere excuses.
He advocated for full electronic voting, citing India’s successful model with minimal disputes, and questions why Nigerians can’t vote electronically from home.
Sowore described INEC’s IREV system as outdated.
