Electoral act: Without manipulation, they are finished — El-Rufai
Former Kaduna Governor Criticizes Senate Over Election Result Transmission
Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has launched a strong criticism of the Senate for rejecting the mandatory electronic transmission of election results. He contends that this decision may facilitate post-election manipulation.
In an interview with Trust TV, El-Rufai expressed disappointment about not being able to return to Nigeria in time to join protests organized by Peter Obi, the African Democratic Congress presidential aspirant, and other opposition leaders. He stated, “I would have joined Mr. Peter Obi and other party leaders in protesting to the National Assembly to restore the real-time and mandatory transmission of results from the polling unit.”
El-Rufai emphasized that electronic transmission is crucial for preventing electoral fraud, asserting that rigging primarily occurs during the collation process rather than at polling units. “It is the only way we can stop the manipulation that goes on in the collation centers. That is where the real rigging takes place,” he explained.
He noted that while the House of Representatives has passed a provision for mandatory electronic transmission, it appears to be stalled in the Senate. “This provision would have improved the quality of our elections. But we all know why the ruling party and the sitting government don’t want that; they know they can’t win the elections,” he alleged.
El-Rufai further claimed that the ruling party relies on manipulating results post-voting to maintain their electoral advantage. “The only way they have a fighting chance is to manipulate the results after people have voted,” he added.
In related news, protesters gathered outside the National Assembly in Abuja on Monday morning to voice their opposition to the Senate’s decision against mandatory electronic transmission of election results. Peter Obi was seen leading the demonstration, calling for urgent reforms to protect the integrity of future elections.
