By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State’s Chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the rejection of electronic transmission of election results, describing the move as inconsistent, illogical, and contrary to the spirit of electoral transparency, especially given the continued use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
In a statement issued by Abosede Busayo Oluwaseun, Chairman of the Directorate of Media and Publicity of the party in Osun State, the ADC said it was necessary to remind Nigerians that the country’s electoral process now relies heavily on technology-driven tools designed to enhance credibility and public trust.
The party noted that while BVAS is deployed for electronic voter accreditation, IReV is used for uploading and public viewing of polling unit results.
According to the ADC, these innovations were deliberately introduced to reduce manipulation and strengthen confidence in elections, and have been widely acknowledged for achieving those objectives.
“Against this backdrop, the decision by the Senate to reject electronic transmission of results on the grounds of epileptic network coverage, while fully embracing BVAS and IReV, amounts to speaking from both sides of the mouth,” the statement said.
The party argued that if Nigeria’s network infrastructure is considered adequate to electronically accredit voters using BVAS and to upload and publicly display polling unit results on IReV, it is untenable to claim that the same infrastructure suddenly becomes inadequate for the electronic transmission of results.
The Osun ADC maintained that technology is meant to reduce human interference in the electoral process, not preserve it, adding that electronic transmission of results enhances transparency, accountability, and public trust.
According to the party, these democratic values are now being deliberately undermined by the APC-led Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Democracy thrives when institutions evolve to protect the will of the people, not when outdated and manipulation-prone processes are shielded under the guise of technical excuses,” the statement added.
The party further described the rejection of electronic transmission as a calculated attempt to reopen loopholes for electoral manipulation, particularly ahead of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
The ADC therefore called on democratic actors, civil society organisations, and well-meaning Nigerians to resist what it described as a regression and to support reforms that deepen electoral credibility rather than political convenience.
The party however, urged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be granted full operational independence to deploy technology in ways that guarantee free, fair, and credible elections, stressing that Nigeria’s democratic future must not be sacrificed on the altar of inconsistency and partisan interest.
