The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ensure full electronic transmission of results in the 2027 general elections, cautioning that Nigerians will resist any attempt to compromise the process.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy now rests squarely on INEC’s ability to guarantee transparency in the conduct of elections.
“There must be no glitches in 2027. If POS machines work seamlessly across the remotest parts of this country, then INEC cannot claim that its BVAS machines suddenly fail on election day. That would be deliberate, institutional manipulation, and Nigerians will not accept it,” Ologunagba declared.
The PDP spokesperson reminded the electoral body that the Electoral Act 2022, under Section 64 (4), (5) and (6), already provides a legal framework for the direct transmission of results from polling units using electronic devices. He accused INEC of deliberately failing to maximize available technology during past elections.
“Today, Nigerians can use their ATM cards and POS machines anywhere in the country without issues. So why should BVAS machines, which have backup batteries, conveniently fail at polling units? This cannot be a coincidence; it is a calculated effort to subvert the will of the people,” he argued.
According to Ologunagba, the 2027 elections must be free, fair, and devoid of excuses. He stressed that the PDP will spearhead efforts to ensure every vote counts and that Nigerians’ choices are fully reflected in the results.
“Votes must count and be counted. The only way democracy can thrive is for INEC to guarantee real-time transmission of results to prevent manipulation. Any attempt to abridge Nigerians’ rights to choose their leaders will be firmly resisted by our party and by the Nigerian people,” he said.
Beyond election matters, the PDP also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of abandoning governance for early politicking, describing its recent endorsement drives as evidence of panic.
“If the APC and President Bola Tinubu were truly performing, they wouldn’t need endorsements. The real endorsement is in the lives of the people. Nigerians cannot feed their families, pay school fees, or afford basic necessities, yet this government continues to impose policies like the proposed five per cent tax on petroleum products coming in January. That is not governance; it is punishment,” Ologunagba said.
He dismissed the APC’s activities as a distraction from the nation’s pressing challenges, adding: “Let your work endorse you. Let your achievements speak for you. Nigerians are tired of photo opportunities and empty endorsements splashed across the pages of newspapers while hunger and poverty deepen in our communities.”
The PDP maintained that the ruling party’s focus on premature campaigns is overheating the polity and undermining INEC’s regulatory authority.
“INEC itself has expressed frustration at this behaviour. The APC knows the PDP is recalibrating and reconnecting with Nigerians through reconciliation and inclusion. That is why they are jittery and desperate,” Ologunagba added.
