The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) has issued a stern warning to the Nigerian Senate, labeling the recent vote to exclude mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results as a “dangerous contradiction” that threatens the nation’s stability.
In a media briefing with a CCN correspondent, the General Secretary of the Council, The Rt. Rev. Evans Onyemara, Ph.D, cautioned that the decision creates a loophole ripe for electoral fraud and post-election violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A Direct Assault on Transparency
The Council expressed dismay that the National Assembly would approve electronic transmission in theory while rejecting the “real-time” requirement that ensures results cannot be tampered with manually. Rev. Onyemara described the move as a deliberate weakening of public trust.
“You cannot claim to support electronic transmission and at the same time reject its real-time implementation,” Rev. Onyemara stated. “That contradiction undermines transparency and sets Nigeria on a path of manipulated elections. It is an invitation to anarchy.”
The CCN argued that real-time transmission is the only way to safeguard the intent of the Electoral Act of 2022, specifically Section 60(5), which grants INEC the power to transmit results electronically.
Constitutional Concerns and Global Standing
The Council further contended that any delay in transmission violates the spirit of the 1999 Constitution, citing provisions that mandate the state to abolish corrupt practices and ensure the sovereignty of the people.
Rev. Onyemara noted with concern that Nigeria is currently lagging behind other African nations that have successfully adopted real-time technology to secure their democracies.
“It is shameful that Nigeria, the so-called Giant of Africa, is lagging behind in democratic innovation,” he said.
Call for Intervention
The CCN is calling on the international community including the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union to intervene diplomatically.
Closer to home, the Council urged civil society groups, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), to break their silence. The CCN warned that a failure to mandate real-time transmission would lead to a total loss of confidence in the 2027 polls, potentially triggering widespread political tension.
