Former Senator and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dino Melaye, has strongly criticised the Nigerian Senate over its rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results, describing the move as an open endorsement of election rigging and a clear exposition of plans to manipulate the 2027 general elections.
Melaye made the remarks in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, reacting to the Senate’s recent legislative decision that has continued to spark outrage across political and civil society circles.
According to the former lawmaker, the refusal to mandate real-time electronic transmission of results undermines electoral transparency and signals a deliberate intention to retain a system vulnerable to manipulation. He argued that the decision goes beyond legislative caution and instead exposes what he described as a premeditated strategy to compromise future elections.
“The Senate rejection of electronic transmission of results is an open endorsement of election rigging and an exposition of the 2027 rigging plan,” Melaye stated.
His comments echo growing concerns among opposition figures and pro-democracy advocates who believe that technology-driven reforms are essential to restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly after the controversies that trailed the 2023 general elections.
Analysts note that electronic transmission of results has been widely adopted in other democracies as a safeguard against human interference, result alteration, and prolonged post-election disputes. Critics of the Senate’s position argue that resisting such reforms only deepens public suspicion of the political class and weakens democratic accountability.
Melaye’s statement adds to mounting pressure on the National Assembly, as calls intensify for electoral reforms that guarantee transparency, credibility, and the protection of voters’ mandates ahead of the 2027 polls.