Nigeria’s amended Electoral Act 2026, which mandates electronic transmission of election results, faces scrutiny over potential risks to polling agents and vulnerabilities in the system. The law, passed by the National Assembly in the wake of significant debate, replaces the previous 2022 version that did not formally acknowledge e-transmission, a provision that had been included in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) regulations.

Controversy Over Polling Agent Safety

Mr. Mike Igini, a former INEC commissioner and resident electoral commissioner for Akwa Ibom State in 2019, has raised concerns about the safety of polling agents under the new law. He argues that granting polling agents the authority to confirm internet access in polling units could place them at risk of coercion by unscrupulous politicians. The fear is that such politicians might force agents to declare poor internet access in order to justify the use of Form EC8A, a paper-based method of reporting results that is known to be susceptible to manipulation.

In a recent Arise TV interview, Igini highlighted a previous incident where a state government blocked internet access, preventing people from receiving election results. He warned that a similar tactic could be used in areas where politicians want to prevent real-time transmission, raising the question of whether the reliance on technology is truly a secure solution to election fraud.

Technology Vulnerabilities and Election Integrity

Despite the push for electronic transmission, the reliability of technology in securing election results remains a point of contention. Critics argue that technology can be hacked or jammed, as seen in Iran, where the government recently cut internet access to curb protests. This raises concerns that even with the promise of 93% internet coverage in polling units, as claimed by INEC in the 2023 elections, the system could still be vulnerable to manipulation.

Furthermore, some Nigerians believe that relying solely on technology does not address the deeper issues in the electoral system, such as vote-buying and the lack of independent election monitoring bodies. According to a report by the Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems and the Central Bank of Nigeria, cyber fraud losses in the country have surged by 350% over the past five years, from N11.61 billion in 2020 to N52.26 billion in 2024.

This data has led some to question whether similar risks could arise in the context of electronic election results transmission. Unlike banks, which can mitigate such risks through insurance, INEC has no such safeguards in place against potential cyberattacks or system failures that could disrupt the results transmission process.

INEC’s Role and Public Confidence

The integrity of Nigeria’s elections is also closely tied to the credibility of INEC. Critics argue that the commission has a history of involvement in election manipulation, and without a strong system of accountability, the public may not be able to trust the results, even if they are transmitted electronically.

According to Igini, the amended Electoral Act 2026 has not adequately addressed the need for transparency and accountability in the electoral process. He argues that instead of focusing solely on electronic transmission, the country should look for broader solutions that address the systemic issues undermining election integrity.

Despite these concerns, advocates for electronic transmission remain steadfast, believing that the use of Form EC8A in the 2023 elections was manipulated by corrupt actors. They argue that eliminating human interaction in the results collation process could prevent such fraud.

However, some analysts warn that this approach may not be foolproof, as political actors are likely to find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in the system. The push for electronic transmission, while well-intentioned, may inadvertently create new risks that need to be carefully managed.

As Nigeria moves toward the 2027 elections, the debate over electronic transmission of results is likely to continue. With the new law now in effect, the focus will be on how INEC and other stakeholders ensure the security and reliability of the system, while also addressing the deeper structural issues that affect election integrity.