PDP DEMANDS STRICT IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRONIC RESULT TRANSMISSION FOR 2027 ELECTIONS. (PHOTO).

 PDP Demands Strict Implementation of Electronic Result Transmission for 2027 Elections

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the full enforcement of the legal framework mandating electronic transmission of election results in the 2027 general elections, vowing to resist any attempts to manipulate the process or undermine the will of Nigerians.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba expressed deep concern over what he termed “institutional manipulation” in past elections. He insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must ensure real-time transmission of results directly from polling units, as stipulated in Section 64 (4), (5), and (6) of the Electoral Act 2022, which provides for the use of Smart Card Readers or other electronic devices for result transmission.

Ologunagba referenced the 2023 presidential election, where INEC cited technical glitches as the reason for its inability to transmit results in real time. “There must be no glitches in 2027. If POS machines work seamlessly across the remotest parts of this country, then INEC cannot claim that its BVAS machines suddenly fail on election day. That would be deliberate, institutional manipulation, and Nigerians will not accept it,” he declared.

He argued that Nigeria’s existing technology and infrastructure, such as ATM and POS systems, prove that seamless electronic transmission is achievable. “Why should BVAS machines, which have backup batteries, conveniently fail at polling units? This cannot be a coincidence; it is a calculated effort to subvert the will of the people,” Ologunagba said, emphasizing that the PDP would lead efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy and ensure voters’ choices are accurately reflected.

The PDP spokesman warned that the 2027 elections must be free, fair, and transparent, with no excuses from INEC. “The era of ‘glitches’ is over. If the infrastructure that supports electronic payments works nationwide, INEC has no reason to fail. Nigerians deserve a credible election, and the PDP will ensure they get nothing less,” he stated.

Ologunagba also criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for what he described as premature electioneering, accusing the party of overheating the polity and undermining INEC’s regulatory role. He claimed the APC was resorting to “endorsement shopping” to create an illusion of popularity amid the PDP’s resurgence. “If the APC and President Bola Tinubu were truly performing, they wouldn’t need endorsements. Nigerians cannot feed their families, pay school fees, or afford basic necessities, yet this government continues to impose policies like the proposed five percent tax on petroleum products coming in January. That is not governance; it is punishment,” he said.

Linking the APC’s actions to an “abandonment” of governance, Ologunagba alleged that the ruling party was focusing on early campaigns less than two years before the 2027 polls due to panic over the PDP’s efforts to reconnect with Nigerians through reconciliation and inclusion. “INEC itself has expressed frustration at this behaviour. The APC knows the PDP is recalibrating, and that’s why they are jittery and desperate,” he noted.

The PDP’s call for robust electoral reforms underscores growing concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, with the party vowing to ensure that the 2027 elections reflect the true will of the Nigerian people.