In a sudden reversal, Nigerian lawmakers have approved the live electronic publication of election results, following widespread public outrage. Last week, the Senate rejected a proposal requiring polling units to upload results in real time, prompting protests outside the National Assembly and criticism that lawmakers were undermining electoral transparency. After an emergency session, senators unanimously approved electronic transmission of results once voting concludes and all procedures at polling stations are completed. Lawmakers say the move aims to boost public confidence and enable citizens to track elections more transparently.
Nigeria has roughly 176,000 polling units. Experts believe publishing results on a central public platform in real time could help restore trust in a system long plagued by disputed outcomes, delayed results, and repeated court challenges. Trust in the electoral process has been declining for years. Only 27% of registered voters participated in the 2023 elections, the lowest turnout since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. The reform comes as the country prepares for general elections in early 2027, where credible and transparent results are expected to be a top priority.
