He noted that despite repeated amendments to the Electoral Act with every election cycle, the same structural weaknesses persist, forcing courts to determine election outcomes long after votes have been cast. The apex court held that electronic transmission, being contained only in INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines, could not be treated as legally binding evidence in election petitions. Without explicit statutory provision, electronic transmission remains optional and legally inconsequential, no matter how transparent or efficient it may be,” he said. Drawing lessons from history, Agbakoba pointed to the June 12, 1993, presidential election as Nigeria’s benchmark for electoral credibility. According to him, mandatory electronic transmission would combine immediate verification with tamper-proof digital records, delivering transparency with greater efficiency, security and verifiability.

Source: The Guardian February 09, 2026 18:54 UTC