00:00Nigerian lawmakers have made a sharp U-turn, approving the live electronic publication of election results after a wave of public backlash.
00:10Just last week, the Senate had rejected a proposal that would force polling units to upload results in real time, a move that sparked outrage across the country.
00:20Hundreds of protesters even gathered outside parliaments, accusing lawmakers of trying to weaken transparency.
00:25Now, after an emergency meeting, the Senate says it has unanimously approved electronic transmission of results once voting and all required procedures are complete at polling stations.
00:38Lawmakers say the reversal will boost public confidence and allow citizens to follow elections more transparently, a key issue as Nigeria heads towards general elections in early 2027.
00:49Nigeria has about 170,000 polling units, and experts argue that publishing results instantly on a central public platform could help restore trust in a system plagued by disputed outcomes and endless court cases.
01:05Trust has been fading for years, just 27% voted in 2023, the lowest turnout since 1999.
Comments