Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), has issued a strong warning against any attempt to weaken the electronic transmission of election results ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The coalition argued that electronic transmission directly addresses this weakness by ensuring that results transmitted from polling units cannot be tampered with by politicians, compromised officials, or other vested interests.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the group expressed deep concern over what it described as growing efforts by some political actors to dilute or frustrate the full implementation of electronic result transmission.
According to CNG, Nigeria’s electoral challenges over the years have largely stemmed from manipulation at the collation stage, where results are allegedly altered and the will of voters subverted.
He said: “We state clearly, unequivocally, and without diplomatic caution: electronic transmission of results is not optional, not experimental, and not negotiable it is the lifeblood of credible elections and the last line of defence between democracy and organized electoral robbery.
“Nigeria has suffered far too long under a culture of electoral manipulation that has denied citizens their sovereign right to freely choose their leaders. For decades, the weakest point of our elections has not been voting, but collation where figures mysteriously change, mandates disappear, and the will of the people is replaced with the will of political cartels.
“It is precisely this criminal space that electronic transmission seeks to eliminate. Electronic transmission guarantees that once results leave the polling unit, they cannot be altered by desperate politicians, compromised officials, or shadowy interests operating in the darkness of manual collation centres.
“It protects the integrity of the ballot, preserves public trust, and strengthens national stability. Any resistance to this reform can only be interpreted as resistance to transparency itself.
“We therefore view with deep concern the recent comments, signals, and legislative manoeuvres associated with the Senate President and certain elements within the National Assembly that appear designed to dilute or frustrate the full implementation of electronic result transmission.
“Such actions are not merely disappointing, they are dangerous, regressive, and profoundly anti-democratic. At a time when democracies across the world are deploying technology to enhance accountability, it is shameful that some of Nigeria’s highest office holders are contemplating a return to analogue manipulation.”
He warned that repeated disputed elections could deepen public distrust, fuel post-election violence, and trigger legitimacy crises.
The coalition called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain firm in deploying full electronic transmission of results without dilution, while urging the National Assembly to desist from any legislative actions capable of weakening transparency in the electoral process.
He added, “Those who oppose e-transmission do so because the old fraudulent system favours them. They fear a system where votes truly count. They fear a system they cannot manipulate. They fear the people’s verdict.
“The Senate President and his colleagues must remember that they occupy their offices by the mandate of the people, not by entitlement. The National Assembly is not a sanctuary for political self-preservation; it is a constitutional institution meant to deepen democracy and protect the sanctity of the vote.
“History will not be kind to any leader who conspires, directly or indirectly, to weaken electoral transparency. Nigeria cannot afford another cycle of disputed elections, post-election violence, judicial battles, and legitimacy crises. We cannot continue to gamble with the stability of our nation simply because a few political elites are uncomfortable with accountability.
“Credible elections are not just about politics, they are about national security, economic stability, investor confidence, and social cohesion. When citizens lose faith in the ballot, they begin to lose faith in the nation itself. And when faith collapses, unrest follows. Electronic transmission is therefore not merely a technical reform; it is a safeguard for peace and national unity.”
He appealed to civil society organisations, youth groups, and the media to intensify advocacy and vigilance, and urged Nigerians across all regions and political affiliations to hold their elected representatives accountable.
CNG vowed to resist any attempt to reverse electoral reforms, insisting that anything short of credible, transparent, and technology-driven elections would be unacceptable to Nigerians.
“We must speak with one voice: our votes must count, and they must be protected by technology. Democracy cannot survive on trust alone; it must be backed by verifiable systems. Nigeria belongs to the people not to political godfathers, not to incumbents, and not to backroom conspirators.
“As we approach 2027, let this message resonate clearly in every constituency and every polling unit: we will resist any attempt to drag this country backward.
“We will not allow anyone to steal the future of our children through electoral manipulation. And we will mobilize democratically to defend every single vote cast by Nigerians. The time for electoral darkness has passed. The era of transparency must prevail. Anything less than credible, transparent, technology-driven elections in 2027 is unacceptable to the Nigerian people,” he said.
