…Nigeria Computer Society Says Science Can Secure Voting Process, as Obi Leads Protests to NASS
By Franklin Adole
The President of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Muhammad Aliyu, has urged the Senate to approve real-time electronic transmission of election results, insisting that modern technology can adequately address concerns around connectivity, security and capacity.
Aliyu made the call while reacting to the Senate’s decision to delete the phrase “real-time” from provisions on electronic transmission in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, warning that the move could weaken transparency and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to him, fears often cited by lawmakers, including poor network coverage, cybersecurity risks and technical capacity, are solvable with existing, proven scientific solutions.
“Technology, when properly governed, enhances transparency, reduces human interference and strengthens public confidence in electoral outcomes,” Aliyu said.
He explained that uneven connectivity, especially in rural areas, could be addressed through a hybrid transmission architecture, allowing real-time transmission where networks exist, while using encrypted store-and-forward systems with secure timestamping in low-connectivity areas.
On cybersecurity, the NCS president said safeguards such as end-to-end encryption, digital signatures, device authentication, immutable audit trails and independent penetration testing could sufficiently protect the integrity of transmitted results.
Aliyu added that capacity gaps among election officials could be resolved through early procurement, phased pilot deployments and standardised training programmes, supported by NCS-certified professionals across the country.
He warned that retaining restrictive provisions in the law could expose the electoral process to serious risks, including erosion of public trust, increased election disputes, democratic regression and reputational damage to Nigeria.
“Manual collation processes increase exposure to human error, intimidation and result manipulation during transit,” he said, noting that perceived electoral opacity could also discourage investment and undermine Nigeria’s digital credibility.
Aliyu stressed that Nigeria’s democratic future depends on verifiable and transparent elections, describing digital accountability as essential rather than optional.
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads. Retaining legal provisions that weaken digital accountability sends the wrong signal to citizens, professionals and the global community,” he said.
He disclosed that the NCS was ready to provide institutional support through standards development, independent audits, capacity building and continuous system improvement, adding that the society was joining other civil and pro-democracy groups to demand the compulsory inclusion of real-time electronic transmission of results in the amended Electoral Act.
Meanwhile, opposition to the Senate’s action intensified on Monday as the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, joined hundreds of protesters at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The protest, tagged “Occupy the National Assembly,” was organised by members of the Obidient Movement alongside pro-democracy activists, who accused lawmakers of attempting to weaken electoral transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards reading “Our votes must count” and “No to electoral robbery,” the protesters marched from the Federal Secretariat to the National Assembly but were stopped at the gates by heavily armed security operatives.
Addressing journalists, Obi warned that credible elections were central to national stability and development, while the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, said protests would continue until real-time electronic transmission was restored in the law.
Nigeria’s drive for electoral reform gained momentum after the disputed 2007 elections, leading to innovations such as card readers in 2015 and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in 2022. Civil society groups have consistently argued that electronic transmission of results would further reduce human interference and restore trust in the electoral process.