‘You rejected electronic transmission under Buhari’ – Wike slams Amaechi
Wike Defends 2026 Electoral Act, Criticizes Amaechi’s Hypocrisy
By Ayobami Okerinde
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, defended the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act during a media briefing on Monday, specifically addressing criticisms from former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi regarding the law’s electronic transmission of results.
Wike accused Amaechi of hypocrisy, noting that he previously opposed the approval of electronic transmission under former President Muhammadu Buhari. Wike stressed that the 2026 law permits manual transmission of results only in instances where electronic means fail due to poor network connectivity.
“The new Electoral Act does not eliminate electronic transmission; it provides a safeguard to ensure that voters are not disenfranchised in areas where network issues arise,” Wike stated.
Wike recounted that Amaechi and others in the previous administration were resistant to electronic voting, fearing its potential impact on elections. “Now that we are here, they are not saying there should be no electronic transmission; they are suggesting that we allow for manual transmission if needed,” he added.
The former governor of Rivers State also defended a provision mandating direct primaries for political parties, arguing that such a system would mitigate the influence of wealth and empower broader participation. He claimed that indirect primaries often favor affluent politicians and establish a dominance over party structures.
“When indirect primaries are utilized, wealthy individuals can easily buy delegates and dictate the process,” Wike said. “Direct primaries would help reduce this issue and expand participation.”
On February 10, Amaechi participated in a protest at the National Assembly, alleging that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is opposed to electronic transmission due to fears of electoral losses. He urged opposition parties to unite against what he perceives as an attempt by a single party to undermine the electoral process.
“If we unite and they claim the opposition has hijacked the protest, what is the APC doing? Are they not also attempting to influence the narrative?” Amaechi questioned.
For more coverage on this topic, refer to the article on Vanguard News.
