Stakeholders have called for the full adoption of electronic transmission of election results, noting that concerns about network coverage should not be used as justification to resist electoral transparency.
The Convener, Delta Democrats Forum, Ufuoma Atare, emphasised that democracy depends on accountability and public trust in the electoral process.
This was contained in a statement signed by Atare, who is also the Delta State Lead Ambassador of “The Movement”. He noted that continued commitment to transparent and trustworthy democratic processes in Nigeria is imperative.
Atare pointed out that modern technology already provides solutions capable of overcoming connectivity challenges in remote areas of the country.
The convener also challenged recent claims that poor internet coverage makes electronic transmission unreliable, describing it as either a misunderstanding of modern systems or a reluctance to embrace transparency.
He noted that electronic result transmission does not require constant internet access.
According to him, offline enabled applications are widely used by banks, research firms, logistics companies and government agencies. It can securely store data and automatically upload it once network becomes available.
Making references and comparisons to digital banking and communication systems already operating nationwide, Atare questioned why the country’s electoral framework cannot implement a similar technology.
The group said: “If billions of naira can be transferred electronically across the country, election results can also be transmitted electronically. ” The real issue is not technological limitation, but the political will to deploy secure and well-designed systems.
Beyond electronic transmission, Atare proposed the integration of a GPS-based monitoring solution developed by former Israeli military software experts.
According to him, the group would track the precise polling unit location, monitor routes to collation centres and record travel time in real time.
Any unexplained delay, detour or stoppage would be automatically detected, eliminating what he described as “mystery journeys” between polling units and collation centres, while urging citizens to demand credible and accountable elections.
He also emphasized that democracy thrives only when voters trust that their ballot counts, emphasising the need for unity and clarity in advocating electoral reform.
The convener added that technology should serve as a safeguard rather than a threat.
