Our Reporter, Abuja
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has called for the urgent adoption of electronic voting and real-time transmission of election results ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that Nigeria has no compelling reason to continue with the current system that is prone to manipulation.
El-Rufai made the call on Friday during an interactive session in Owerri, Imo State, as part of activities preceding the Odenigbo 2025 event organized by the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri.
Speaking on the theme “Moving Forward Together,” El-Rufai emphasised that Nigeria’s survival and prosperity depended on elite consensus around true federalism, equal citizenship, rule of law, public safety, and national development.
“We can move forward together, united in a common endeavour for development and prosperity. But in that quest, we need elite consensus constructed around merit, security, and a federalism that works,” he said.
On the electoral process, the former FCT Minister expressed worry over declining voter turnout in presidential elections, noting that participation dropped from over 60% in 2003 to less than 30% in 2023.
“Low voter turnout should worry every democrat. Citizens who feel alienated from the process could create fragility in our democracy. We must ask why they no longer vote and what can encourage them to resume exercising their democratic rights,” El-Rufai warned.
He stressed that electronic voting and transmission of results would help restore confidence in Nigeria’s democracy, recalling that Kaduna State successfully deployed the system during its 2018 local government elections.
“I do not see any unbridgeable barrier to adopting electronic voting and real-time transmission of results for the 2027 elections. INEC has more than enough time to acquire and deploy the infrastructure needed to deliver this at a lower cost than our unreliable, easily manipulated system,” he argued.
El-Rufai further urged political leaders to prioritise peace, progress, and prosperity through pragmatic solutions that strengthen national unity while addressing the structural weaknesses of the Nigerian federation.
