Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has strongly criticised the Nigerian Senate over its refusal to make real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory, warning that the decision represents a dangerous setback for democracy and further entrenches Nigeria’s reputation as a nation resistant to transparency and reform.
In a strongly worded statement, Obi described the Senate’s action as an unforgivable act of electoral manipulation aimed at shaping the outcome of the 2027 general elections. He argued that by rejecting compulsory electronic transmission, lawmakers had deliberately weakened one of the most important safeguards for credible elections and deepened public distrust in the democratic process.
Obi began his remarks by calling for a moment of reflection and prayer for the souls of more than 150 innocent Nigerians who reportedly lost their lives in a tragic incident in Kwara State. He said the national tragedy partly informed his decision to delay commenting on what he described as “outrageous and shameful” developments surrounding Nigeria’s electoral framework.
According to him, the refusal to mandate electronic transmission of results is not a procedural oversight but a calculated assault on democracy. He said credible elections rest on transparency, clarity, and public confidence, all of which are undermined when results can be manipulated between polling units and collation centres.
“This failure to pass a clear safeguard is nothing short of a deliberate attack on Nigeria’s democracy,” Obi said, adding that the rejection of electronic transmission erodes the foundation upon which free and fair elections are built.
He questioned the true purpose of governance in Nigeria, asking whether the state exists to ensure order and justice or to institutionalise chaos for the benefit of a powerful few. According to him, leadership should serve the collective good, not the “sinister ambitions” of individuals determined to retain power at all costs.
Obi linked the widespread disputes, legal battles, and public outrage that followed past elections—particularly the 2023 general election—to the failure to fully implement electronic transmission of results. He recalled how Nigerians were told that alleged “glitches” in the system prevented seamless result uploads, an explanation he described as fabricated and misleading.
He argued that many African countries, some with fewer resources than Nigeria, have successfully adopted electronic transmission to strengthen their democratic processes. In contrast, Nigeria, often described as Africa’s largest democracy, continues to resist reforms that would enhance credibility and public trust.
“For a country that prides itself as the giant of Africa, our refusal to adopt basic democratic safeguards is both embarrassing and self-defeating,” Obi said, warning that Nigeria’s actions are dragging not only itself but also the continent backward.
The former Anambra State governor also criticised what he described as the hypocrisy of Nigeria’s political elite, who frequently organise conferences, workshops, and policy dialogues on national development while actively blocking meaningful reform.
“We keep hosting conferences and writing papers on Nigeria’s problems, yet we, the leaders and the elite, are the real issue,” he said. “Our deliberate resistance to reform is pulling the country backward, towards a primitive and disorderly system of governance.”
Obi maintained that rejecting mandatory electronic transmission entrenches confusion and disorder, allowing election outcomes to be shaped according to the whims of a small clique. He warned that such practices mortgage the future of the country and deny younger generations the possibility of a stable, credible, and livable nation.
He challenged Nigeria’s leadership to reflect deeply on the legacy they are building, asking whether the country is being prepared for future generations or permanently trapped in cycles of chaos, mistrust, and instability.
Referencing past international criticism of Nigeria, Obi noted that Nigerians often react angrily when foreign leaders describe the country in unflattering terms. He recalled comments by a former British prime minister who once described Nigeria as “fantastically corrupt,” as well as remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who labelled Nigeria a “now disgraced nation.”
While such statements provoked widespread outrage at the time, Obi argued that Nigeria’s continued resistance to transparency and reform only reinforces those negative perceptions.
“With every act of opposition to accountability and openness, we keep confirming what the world says about us,” he stated. “Those responsible will later accuse others of damaging the country, even as they quietly suffocate its enormous potential.”
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Obi issued a firm warning that the irregularities and alleged criminality witnessed in 2023 must not be repeated. He said Nigerians cannot afford another election cycle marred by confusion, disputed results, and institutional ambiguity.
“There should be no illusion,” he said. “What happened in 2023 will not be tolerated in 2027.”
He called on Nigerians across the country and in the diaspora to begin preparing to legitimately resist any backward steps and to decisively reclaim their democracy through lawful and peaceful means. According to him, civic vigilance, unity, and sustained pressure on institutions are essential to preventing electoral manipulation.
Obi also urged the international community to pay close attention to developments in Nigeria’s electoral framework, warning that the groundwork being laid now could enable future manipulation, undermine democratic stability, and hinder national development.
He stressed that democracy is not sustained by rhetoric but by systems that guarantee transparency, accountability, and the true expression of the people’s will.
Despite his harsh criticism, Obi ended his statement on a note of cautious optimism, reiterating his long-held belief that a new Nigeria remains possible. However, he emphasised that such a future would not emerge automatically.
“A new Nigeria is possible,” he said, “but only if we are all willing to stand up, speak out, and fight for it.”
According to Obi, the struggle for credible elections is not about political parties or personalities, but about the soul of the nation and the kind of country Nigerians want to hand over to future generations.
