Nigerian political parties and civil society organizations have united in strong condemnation of the Nigerian Senate's decision to reject mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results in the ongoing Electoral Act amendment process. Despite initial reports of the rejection being debunked by the Senate's minority caucus, the controversy has drawn widespread criticism, with various groups asserting that the move gravely undermines the nation's democracy and electoral integrity.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Enugu State chapter, in a press release on Friday, affirmed that the people of the South-East geo-political zone are earnestly advocating for the inclusion of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results. The party described the controversy surrounding the Electoral Act amendment as 'very unfortunate and embarrassing to the nation.' Signed by Comrade Adolphus Ude, on behalf of the Enugu ADC media team, the release alleged that the 'rigging of the 2027 general election has commenced at the Senate' with this rejection. The ADC warned that if the Senate's action stands, it would jeopardize the credibility, transparency, and acceptability of future elections. The party accused the Senate of aligning with the Executive Arm of government's agenda, rather than heeding the Nigerian populace's desire for technology-driven elections to curb result tampering. Enugu ADC stated, 'We received with heavy heart, shock and disbelief, the report that the Nigerian Senate rejected the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act amendment. This is not only very unfortunate, but an embarrassment to the nation.' The party urged Igbo senators to champion the cause, emphasizing that mandatory electronic transmission would restore public confidence, ensure votes count, and combat voter apathy.

Similarly, the Obidient Movement vehemently criticized the Senate, with national coordinator Yunusa Tanko describing the retention of manual collation provisions as 'a direct assault on Nigeria’s democracy' and an attempt to 'institutionalise opacity.' In a statement issued on Friday, Tanko labeled the decision as a deliberate step towards electoral manipulation in 2027, drawing parallels to the controversies of the 2023 general election, particularly the failure to upload polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal. He argued that the Senate's position seeks to perpetuate vulnerabilities that eroded public confidence. Tanko accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of hypocrisy, noting their reliance on electronic systems for internal primaries while denying Nigerians similar transparency in national polls. The movement called for a peaceful mass march to the national assembly to demand an emergency session to make real-time transmission mandatory and non-negotiable, urging Nigerians, civil society, and the international community to join the resistance against this 'dangerous regression in democratic standards.'

The Workers and Youth Solidarity Network (WYSN) also condemned the Senate's decision, calling it 'elitist, self-serving, and a grave threat to Nigeria’s democracy.' In a statement signed by National Secretary Comrade Iortyom Ushahemba Moses, WYSN asserted that the decision, made during the consideration and passage of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill on February 4, was a calculated effort by the political elite to undermine transparency and accountability. By retaining discretionary provisions instead of mandating real-time electronic transmission, the Senate, according to WYSN, has knowingly opened doors for manipulation, rigging, and disenfranchisement, especially troubling in an age of advanced technology. The organization warned that such anti-democratic policies erode public trust, fuel instability, and endanger national cohesion. WYSN called for mass mobilization, sustained advocacy, and public protests to compel the Senate to reverse its decision, stating, 'Silence in the face of this betrayal is complicity.' Beyond immediate protests, WYSN also advocated for building a mass, working-people-centred political alternative to challenge the dominance of corrupt politicians and offer hope to Nigerians.

Adding to the chorus of disapproval, pro-democracy group Mekunnu Koya issued a sweeping call for nationwide mobilization, cautioning Nigerians against allowing President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, or a handful of political merchants to impose their will through electoral manipulation and elite conspiracy. Convener Comrade Wale Balogun emphasized the necessity for Nigerians to unite and resist to defend the sanctity of the ballot, insisting that electoral reform must be secured before elections. The group lamented the erosion of democratic hopes since 2015 under successive APC governments, which it accused of replacing popular sovereignty with manipulation and authoritarian rule. Mekunnu Koya directly accused the ruling party of entrenching a system that undermines the people’s will and normalizes social and economic injustice. Drawing parallels to the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the group argued that the same 'template of self-perpetuation, deceit, and elite conspiracy' is unfolding under the current administration. Balogun declared that only 'enemies of Nigeria’s democratic future' would oppose electronic transmission, describing the Senate's posture as evidence of a grand design to undermine credible elections. Mekunnu Koya dismissed claims of President Tinubu's commitment to Nigeria’s development, asserting he prioritizes 'his power, his interests, and his self-perpetuation,' citing 'unprecedented hardship, mass hunger, inflation, unemployment, despair, and insecurity' unleashed on the populace. The group also questioned the APC's popularity, pointing to alleged inducements for defections, and criticized the administration's indifference to insecurity and the President's 'endless foreign junketing.' They concluded that for Nigeria to progress, 'the sanctity of the vote must be protected. Electronic transmission of election results is not a luxury; it is a democratic necessity.'