The long-standing debate over the electronic transmission of election results has taken a fresh turn as technology experts and industry insiders challenge the narrative that Nigeria lacks the infrastructure for such a feat. Ebenezar Wey, a prominent voice in the tech space, has dismissed claims of technical impossibility, asserting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) possesses more than enough resources to make seamless digital transmission a reality.
In an exclusive chat shared with Reports, Wey pointed out that the Senate’s hesitation doesn’t align with modern technological capabilities. He argued that any competent tech professional would confirm that multiple alternatives to standard GSM networks exist. From satellite systems like Starlink to dedicated Wide Area Networks (WAN), the tools are available to link every polling unit in the country to a central server. Wey noted that Nigerian banks successfully manage millions of transactions daily across vast distances using a fraction of the budget allocated to INEC, leaving little room for excuses regarding “network issues.”
The telecommunications sector itself seems to back this up. While the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially remained neutral to avoid political friction, senior insiders told Reports that the investments made by telcos in recent years have put Nigeria in a position to outperform many countries we currently emulate. Data from late 2025 shows that broadband penetration has already crossed the 50% mark, with over 109 million subscriptions nationwide. Major players like MTN and Airtel have poured billions into rural connectivity and 5G expansion, making the “no network” argument increasingly hard to defend.
The Federal Government’s own initiatives, such as “Project Bridge,” are currently working to expand the nation’s fiber-optic backbone from 35,000 km to a staggering 125,000 km. Furthermore, the Local Government 774 Connectivity Programme is already being deployed to support everything from e-education to fintech. Telcos believe that instead of debating whether transmission is possible, the government should focus on protecting existing infrastructure from vandalism and power disruptions, which are the real threats to the system.
Ultimately, the consensus among tech experts is that the barriers to electronic transmission are political rather than technical. Industry leaders are calling for a unified regulatory approach and the enforcement of “critical national asset” status for telecom facilities. If the government addresses issues like multiple taxation and right-of-way charges, the debate over election transparency could finally be laid to rest, ensuring that the technology is ready long before the next trip to the polls.
