A coalition of political activists under the banner of the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has strongly condemned the Senate’s decision to reject mandatory electronic transmission of election results in the proposed Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, describing it as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, the coalition said the action of the National Assembly amounted to a deliberate attempt to undermine the will of the electorate and preserve a system prone to manipulation and electoral fraud. According to the group, rejecting electronic transmission of results exposes elections to tampering between polling units and collation centres.
MCE said mandatory electronic transmission of results is a minimum safeguard against ballot manipulation and post-election fraud, adding that any legislature opposing it was effectively endorsing opacity over transparency and elite interests over popular sovereignty.
The coalition warned that the Senate’s decision could deepen voter apathy ahead of the 2027 general elections and further erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system. It also alleged that weak electoral transparency had encouraged impunity, electoral malpractice and excessive reliance on the courts to determine election outcomes.
According to the statement, the rejection of the clause reinforces public perception that members of the political class are opposed to technological reforms that could expose irregularities in elections.
The MCE, which described itself as a non-partisan and inclusive citizens’ movement, said it comprises Nigerians from diverse backgrounds including youths, women, workers, professionals, civil society groups, faith-based organisations and Nigerians in the diaspora, all united by the demand that every vote must count.
The coalition is convened by prominent activists and public figures including Comrade Ayuba Wabba, Dr Usman Bugaje, Barrister Femi Falana (SAN), Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Professor Pat Utomi, Dr Bilikisu Magoro, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo and Comrade Shehu Sanni, among others.
As part of its demands, the MCE called on the National Assembly to immediately reinstate and pass the provision for mandatory electronic transmission of results, publicly identify lawmakers who opposed the clause, and ensure accountability in the use of legislative powers.
The group also endorsed the planned “Occupy NASS” mass protest scheduled for Monday, February 9, 2026, in Abuja, urging Nigerians to mobilise peacefully to resist what it described as a rollback of electoral reforms. It said a parallel engagement would also take place in Lagos on the same day, where the coalition plans to address the international community on the implications of another disputed election in Nigeria.
In addition to electronic transmission, the MCE advocated the adoption of a Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system, similar to practices in India, to ensure consistency between electronically transmitted results and polling unit records.
The statement was signed by Comrade James Ezema, Media Coordinator of the Movement for Credible Elections.
