Senate Responds to Protesters, Warns Technology Alone Can’t Fix Elections

Nigeria’s Senate has fired back at protesters who have been calling for mandatory electronic transmission of election results, saying that even if every result was uploaded instantly, there would still be criticisms from some quarters. The upper chamber’s leadership described the demonstrations as misinformed and cautioned citizens against oversimplifying complex policy issues.

During a recent session, lawmakers criticised the protesters for what they called exaggerated claims about the proposed changes to the electoral process. Several senators argued that technology alone cannot solve deeper challenges in the nation’s elections, and insisted that dialogue and careful legislation are more important than street demonstrations.

The remarks come amid growing public pressure on the National Assembly to include compulsory real‑time result uploads in the country’s electoral laws. While the protesters maintain that such technology would deter fraud and increase transparency, the Senate emphasised that infrastructure limitations and legal considerations must be addressed first.

Some members of the legislative body also urged youths and civil society to engage with lawmakers through formal channels rather than confrontations, saying that cooperative discussions would lead to more durable reforms. They acknowledged the importance of credible elections but stressed that any changes should be grounded in practicality and broad consensus.

As debates continue, political observers say the government faces rising expectations from citizens for electoral reforms but also significant hurdles in balancing technological innovation with legislative caution.