Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and members of the National Assembly of pushing through what he described as an “evil plan” to allow manual transmission of election results, warning that the move could reverse hard-won electoral reforms.
Adeyanju made the remarks while reacting to the Senate’s position on the controversial amendment to the Electoral Act and the conclusion of the “Occupy National Assembly” protest staged by concerned citizens.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the activist expressed disappointment that the protest ended despite what he believes is a setback to electoral transparency.
“So the protest is over despite the fact that Akpabio and his Hallelujah boys succeeded with their evil plans of manual transmission of results. Na wa ooo,” he wrote.
Adeyanju argued that including manual transmission as an option in the Electoral Act could undermine recent gains in Nigeria’s electoral reform process and weaken public confidence in election outcomes.
“If manual transmission is in the Electoral Act as an option then Akpabio & his Hallelujah boys in NASS have finished Nigeria,” he stated.
“It’s all over. All the electoral reform gains reversed just like that.”
The activist maintained that allowing manual transmission alongside electronic systems could compromise transparency and accountability, key pillars of credible elections.
The Senate’s amendment to the Electoral Act has continued to generate sharp reactions from civil society groups, political stakeholders, and members of the public, with critics arguing that any provision for manual transmission may create room for manipulation, while supporters insist it serves as a safeguard in areas with technical challenges.
