The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expressed deep concern over what it described as the “unimaginable and unpatriotic resistance” of the leadership of the 10th Senate to ongoing reforms of the Electoral Act. The party accused Senate leaders of attempting to derail the popular will of Nigerians by opposing provisions that would mandate real-time electronic transmission of election results.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP noted that nationwide public hearings held in 2025 showed overwhelming support for mandatory electronic transmission. According to the party, the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) is critical to curbing human error and preventing manipulation of results during manual transportation.
“Across the country, citizens have unequivocally spoken and expressed their desires for democratic consolidation to move beyond the challenges of credible elections conducted in the 2023 general elections,” the statement read. “To have critical reforms that will enhance transparency and build public trust, BVAS and IReV are fundamentally critical.”
The SDP argued that most senators, alongside INEC’s new leadership, support reforms aimed at strengthening electoral integrity. It warned, however, that “self-serving cabals” within the Senate leadership must not be allowed to hold Nigeria’s democracy hostage. The party demanded that the new Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2026 include an unambiguous legislative mandate requiring presiding officers at polling units to transmit results electronically in real-time.
The statement further stressed that INEC has already demonstrated the infrastructure, technical capacity, and willingness to implement real-time transmission if allowed to operate without interference. It urged citizens, civil society groups, and democrats to resist any attempts to undermine reforms, warning that Nigeria cannot afford a repeat of the credibility issues that marred the 2023 general elections.
“The nation must not take retrograde steps in this new age,” the SDP said, calling for vigilance and collective action to safeguard democracy ahead of the 2027 polls.
This intervention adds to growing pressure on the National Assembly to ensure that electoral reforms reflect the demands of Nigerians for transparency, credibility, and trust in the democratic process.
By Palma Ileye, Abuja
