Real-Time Electoral Transmission Will Reduce Deaths on Election Day — Amaechi

Former Minister of Transportation and ex-governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the adoption of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results would significantly reduce violence and deaths recorded during elections in Nigeria.

Amaechi made the assertion on Tuesday while joining protesters at the National Assembly, Abuja, where civil society groups and political stakeholders gathered to demand urgent amendments to the Electoral Act.

Addressing the demonstrators, Amaechi argued that delays and lack of transparency in the collation and announcement of election results often fuel tension, violence, and deadly confrontations on election day.

“If results are transmitted in real time from polling units, there will be no reason for manipulation or disputes. People will know the outcome immediately, and that will save lives,” he said.

The former governor stressed that credible and transparent elections are central to Nigeria’s democratic stability, adding that the continued resistance to full deployment of electoral technology undermines public confidence in the system.

Amaechi also called on the National Assembly to make electronic transmission of results compulsory in the amended Electoral Act, rather than leaving it to discretionary guidelines by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Protesters at the National Assembly carried placards advocating electoral transparency, accountability, and reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democracy. They urged lawmakers to act swiftly on the proposed Electoral Act amendment ahead of future elections.

The protest comes amid renewed legislative efforts by the Senate and House of Representatives to review the Electoral Act following criticisms of the conduct of previous elections.

As of the time of filing this report, the National Assembly leadership had yet to officially respond to the demands of the protesters.