Despite ongoing debates over the electronic transmission of election results, Nigeria’s major telecommunications operators have dismissed claims that the country lacks the infrastructure to support real-time result transmission for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking after President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law, telcos including MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom, and T2 Mobile, under the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said objections by some National Assembly members are based on “half-truths” rather than current industry data.
Gbenga Adebayo, ALTON chairman, highlighted that over 70 percent of Nigeria is covered by 3G and 4G networks, with 5G reaching about 11 percent of the country.
Even areas with 2G coverage, he said, are technically capable of transmitting polling unit results electronically.
While acknowledging security and operational challenges in a few insurgency-affected states, Adebayo emphasized that such issues should be addressed collaboratively rather than used to justify a nationwide ban on e-transmission.
President Tinubu, however, emphasized that elections are ultimately managed by people, not computers.
“Final results will be determined by electoral officials, not machines,” he said, stressing that human oversight and proper management are key to credible elections.
The House of Representatives defended the inclusion of a manual transmission option in the law as a safeguard against unforeseen technical failures.
Deputy Spokesperson Philip Agbese said the provision ensures that elections are not stalled or invalidated in areas where technology may fail.
Similarly, lawmaker Gboyega Nasir Isiaka explained that the adjustment reflects operational realities, such as inconsistent network coverage and security concerns in parts of the country.
Meanwhile, former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Mike Igini raised security concerns over manual transmission, warning that presiding officers could face threats at polling units if electronic results are declared unavailable.
Civic advocate and former Education Minister Obiageli Ezekwesili reaffirmed confidence in e-transmission, calling it a critical tool for transparency and reducing electoral malpractice.
She said proper deployment would make it nearly impossible to manipulate results.
Former Senator Shehu Sani also weighed in, cautioning that e-transmission alone cannot guarantee credible elections.
He stressed that structural and ethical challenges in the electoral system must be addressed, while supporting the inclusion of manual collation as a practical backup.
The debate comes amid preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 elections, with stakeholders emphasizing the need for both technological innovation and practical safeguards to protect the integrity of the voting process.
