Ezekwesili joins protesters at national assembly, insists mandatory e-transmission of results

A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, on Tuesday joined protesters at the National Assembly, calling for the mandatory inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026.

Penpushing reports that Ezekwesili amplifying the call warned against what she described as dangerous ambiguities in the proposed legislation, stressing that she has been shouting loud and clear that if the Senate gets away with a provision that is ambiguous, that gives power of discretion to determine the ifs and the buts

“I have been particularly loud in stating that if the Senate gets away with a provision that is ambiguous, that gives power of discretion to determine the ifs and the buts, instead of making the clause mandatory, that every vote must count in this country,” she said.

Penpushing further reports that Ekwesili who appeared on the fourth day of the demonstration, stressed that electoral transparency must not be left to discretionary interpretation, arguing that compulsory electronic transmission is central to credible elections.

“The way that our votes will count is to have this mandatory provision that makes it the core principle of our electoral transparency, the former Deputy President of World Bank African Region emphasised.

Penpushing also reports that referencing previous elections, she said Nigeria must move away from practices that allow disputes over result handling, adding that no longer shall votes be subject to the kinds of cancellations of results that occurred in previous elections.

“No longer shall our votes be subject to the kinds of cancellations of results that we saw in previous elections,” she added.

Penpushing reports that Ezekwesili accused political actors of resisting reforms that could strengthen accountability within the electoral process, and gave reasons why they don’t want transparency

“The only reason they don’t want transparency through the mandatory provision for there to be instant, real-time, electronic transmission of the results … is because they want to continue to capture our democracy,” she said.

Penpushing further reports that she equally linked governance challenges in the country to weaknesses in the electoral system, pointing out that the society is labouring under the weight of poor governance that has been seen so far in the country democracy,

FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or   event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email [email protected]