Former Bayelsa State governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has stated that Nigeria is not yet ready for full electronic voting, arguing that the demand for “real-time” transmission of election results is unnecessary.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Tuesday, Dickson explained that Nigeria does not currently operate a system where votes are electronically cast and instantly uploaded to an online portal.
“We are not at the point where you press a button and your vote is immediately added online,” he said, adding that the phrase “real time” is superfluous and does not automatically guarantee transparency.
His remarks come after the Senate’s emergency plenary session, where lawmakers revisited Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill following public backlash.
The Senate approved the electronic transmission of results to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IREV) but retained manual collation as a backup in the event of network failure. However, senators rejected making real-time uploads compulsory.
While some critics argue that the decision could create room for manipulation, Dickson maintained that it does not undermine democracy.
He noted that debates on electronic transmission have spanned nearly two years and involved consultations with INEC. He also disclosed that he was absent from earlier deliberations due to bereavement.
According to Dickson, opposition to electronic transmission dates back to the 9th Senate, particularly among members of the ruling party. He added that both legislative chambers had initially agreed on the provision before subsequent changes were made.
He emphasized that the polling unit result form, EC8A, remains the primary legal evidence of election results.
“Once votes are counted, signed, and uploaded to IREV, that is good enough,” he said.
Although he expressed reservations about manual collation, Dickson described it as a compromise, noting that electronic transmission remains mandatory under the amended provision. He concluded that electoral reform should be gradual, describing the latest amendment as a step forward.
