The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a detailed clarification regarding its initial reaction to the Electoral Amendment Bill recently passed by the 10th Senate.
The party’s follow-up statement, signed Tuesday by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, explained that its earlier response was based on preliminary media reports suggesting the bill fully guaranteed real-time electronic transmission of election results.
According to the ADC, real-time transmission has long been a critical safeguard to protect votes and uphold electoral integrity.
However, the party said subsequent reports revealed that the final bill contains discretionary clauses capable of weakening this guarantee and potentially opening the door to manipulation of results.
“In light of these facts now on record, the ADC wishes to clarify its position,” the statement said, stressing that any electoral law provision that introduces ambiguity, discretion, or technical loopholes around results transmission undermines the credibility of elections.
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“The credibility of elections rests not on assurances but on clear, unambiguous legal guarantees that protect the will of the people,” the party added.
The ADC maintained that only an Electoral Amendment Act explicitly mandating real-time electronic transmission of results can build public confidence and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
The party urged the National Assembly to remove any provisions that weaken this safeguard and to align the bill with recommendations from the Conference Committee on e-transmission of results.
“The ADC remains committed to standing with Nigerians in defense of transparent, credible, and verifiable elections,” the statement concluded.