Public affairs analyst, Shehu Mahdi has said Nigeria possesses the necessary capacity to implement real-time electronic transmission of election results.

 

 

 

Mahdi made the remarks on Friday during an appearance on Arise Television, where he weighed in on the ongoing national debate surrounding electronic transmission of results.

 

 

 

His comments come days after the Senate amended Section 60 of the Electoral Act to permit presiding officers at polling units to electronically upload results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Results Viewing Portal (IREV).

 

 

 

Reacting to the development, Mahdi criticized what he described as hesitation by lawmakers, arguing that Nigeria has the resources and infrastructure required to support live transmission of results.

 

 

 

“The Senate is toying with the future of Nigeria. We have the manpower, financial capacity, and infrastructure to enable real-time transmission. Enough of the pretence and breach of the law,” he said.

 

 

 

He further described delays in fully embracing electronic transmission as harmful to the country’s democratic progress and international image.

 

 

 

“If the Senate believes Nigeria is not ready for live transmission, when will it be ready? The country is more than prepared,” Mahdi stated.

 

 

 

He pointed to the use of digital platforms such as Zoom for official government meetings by the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly as evidence of Nigeria’s technological readiness.

 

 

 

“A country that conducts high-level meetings via Zoom is adequately prepared for live transmission of

election results,” he added.