A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has criticised the Senate over the removal of electronic transmission of election results from the Electoral Act, describing the move as an attempt to rig the 2027 general elections.
Oguntoyinbo warned that the decision would drag Nigeria backwards and undermine efforts to strengthen the country’s democratic process.
The PDP stalwart made this known in a press statement issued to journalists on Friday in Ibadan, reacting to the Senate’s recent rejection of electronic transmission of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, the Senate’s action has opened the door to possible manipulation of election outcomes in 2027, noting that many Nigerians are unhappy with the development.
He called on the Senate President to urgently revisit the amendment, stressing that electronic transmission of results should be mandatory, not optional.
“Nigerians are not comfortable to hear that there is no electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act or that it is optional. No. The electronic transmission of results should be made compulsory for INEC,” Oguntoyinbo said.
He added that the Senate’s decision sends a wrong signal and could push the country back to an era Nigeria has outgrown.
“We don’t want ambiguity. Election results must be electronically transmitted from polling units across the country. We should not return to the era of ballot box snatching,” he stated.
Oguntoyinbo urged lawmakers to support INEC in delivering free, fair and credible elections, insisting that the Electoral Act must be properly amended to remove grey areas.
“The Senate must ensure that those who govern Nigeria are leaders genuinely elected by the people. The only way to achieve this is to tidy up the Electoral Act and avoid ambiguity in its provisions,” he added.
Elijah Adeyemi
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