The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has faulted the leadership of the 10th Senate over what it described as deliberate resistance to electoral reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s democratic process.
The party said Nigerians have clearly demanded a firm legislative mandate for the real-time electronic transmission of election results, warning that any attempt to undermine this popular will would amount to sabotaging democratic consolidation.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Arabia Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP expressed concern over what it termed “unimaginable and unpatriotic actions” by elements within the Senate leadership seeking to weaken ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act.
According to the party, nationwide public hearings conducted by the Senate in 2025 on the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2026 revealed overwhelming public support for reforms that would prevent a repeat of the credibility issues that marred the 2023 general elections.
The SDP identified the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as critical tools for reducing human error and curbing manipulation associated with manual collation and transportation of results.
“It is no longer in doubt that the majority of patriotic senators, Nigerian citizens, and even the nation’s electoral umpire desire progress towards credible and transparent elections,” the party said, citing the positive reform posture of the new leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party warned that what it described as “self-serving cabals” within the Senate leadership must not be allowed to hold Nigeria’s democracy hostage, insisting that the new Electoral Act must contain a clear, unambiguous legal provision mandating electronic transmission of results in real time from polling units.
The SDP maintained that INEC has already demonstrated the infrastructure, technical capacity and willingness to conduct real-time transmission of results, if allowed to operate without political interference.
Calling for civic vigilance, the party urged citizens, civil society organisations and pro-democracy groups to intensify resistance against any attempt to subvert the will of the people.
“The nation cannot afford a repeat of the credibility crisis witnessed in the 2023 elections,” the statement added, warning that Nigeria must not take retrogressive steps ahead of the 2027 general elections.
