Atiku Abubakar Condemns Hybrid Election Result Transmission System
By Yahaya Zakka, Minna.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has voiced strong opposition to Nigeria’s recently adopted mixed system for transmitting election results, which combines electronic and manual methods.
He asserts that this hybrid approach falls short of expectations and could lead to confusion within the electoral process.
In Minna, Niger State, after a private meeting with former military head General Ibrahim Babangida (retired), Atiku characterized the system as a potential threat to electoral transparency and integrity.
He emphasized that Nigerians prefer a fully real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units directly to the national collation center rather than a combination of electronic uploads and manual result submissions.
“The preference of Nigerians is clear. They want real-time electronic transmission of results,” Atiku stated, calling on opposition parties to unite in opposing the Senate’s decision to retain manual elements in the transmission process.
His remarks come amid ongoing debates over the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which the Senate revised to permit electronic transmission alongside manual backup procedures in case of technological failure.
Regarding the 2027 presidential election, Atiku indicated that the issue is not a current priority. As a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), he noted that the party is focused on grassroots mobilization and strengthening its organizational structure nationwide.
On party leadership zoning, Atiku highlighted that the ADC’s constitution does not require regional zoning, unlike the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which incorporates zoning provisions in its governance framework.
