Nigeria TV Info 

E-Transmission: How Manual Option Opens Door to Manipulation, Rigging — Kenneth Okonkwo

A former spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has warned that allowing manual transmission of election results alongside electronic transmission could expose Nigeria’s electoral process to manipulation and rigging.

Okonkwo made the remarks while reacting to ongoing debates surrounding the electronic transmission of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to him, the introduction or retention of manual collation as an alternative to electronic transmission creates loopholes that desperate politicians may exploit to alter results.

He argued that electronic transmission was introduced to promote transparency, reduce human interference, and strengthen public confidence in elections. However, he stressed that if manual options are retained as a fallback without strict safeguards, it could undermine the credibility of the process.

“The moment you create two parallel systems, one manual and one electronic, you open the door for conflict, manipulation, and result doctoring,” Okonkwo stated. He called for full deployment of technology in result transmission, insisting that any technical challenges should be addressed through improved infrastructure rather than reverting to manual methods.

The legal practitioner further urged the National Assembly to ensure that amendments to the Electoral Act do not weaken the gains recorded in recent elections. He maintained that Nigeria’s democracy can only grow stronger when electoral processes are transparent, verifiable, and resistant to human interference.

Political analysts say the debate over electronic transmission is likely to intensify ahead of future general elections, as stakeholders push for reforms that guarantee free, fair, and credible polls.