A former Chief Whip of the Senate and prominent chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Sir Rowland Owie, has expressed deep concern over the Senate’s recent decision regarding the 2027 electoral framework. Speaking on Thursday, the elder statesman described the rejection of mandatory electronic result transmission as a significant step backward for Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Senator Owie released a personal statement in Benin City following the Senate’s move on Wednesday to turn down an amendment to Clause 70(3) of the Electoral Amendment Bill. That specific amendment was intended to make real-time electronic transmission of results a compulsory part of our voting process. Instead, the Senate chose to stick with the 2022 guidelines, which allow the electoral commission to decide how results are handled at its own discretion.
Senator Owie argued that this decision is far from a minor administrative choice. He believes it actively weakens the protections needed to ensure that every vote counts and can be verified by the public. To him, keeping the process vague only protects loopholes that have historically allowed for results to be altered or disputed after they leave the polling units.
In his view, the push for electronic transmission isn’t a partisan issue but a basic democratic requirement. He pointed out that across the globe, technology is used to build trust and cut out human interference. By retreating to older, less transparent methods, he fears the political establishment is sending a worrying signal about its commitment to truly credible elections in 2027.
The Senator emphasized that democracy should evolve alongside technology to meet the expectations of the people. He noted that elections should be decided clearly and promptly at the ballot box, rather than through delays or behind-the-scenes procedures that the public cannot easily track.
Calling on civil society groups, the media, and the international community, Owie urged Nigerians to remain vocal in their demand for an electoral system that is beyond manipulation. He maintained that anything less than a fully transparent and verifiable process is a disservice to the voters and a betrayal of the country’s democratic promise.
