Leading telecommunications operators in Nigeria have dismissed claims by some lawmakers that the country lacks the infrastructure required for real-time electronic transmission of election results.
The operators—MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and T2 Mobile—maintained that Nigeria’s network capacity is sufficient to support electronic transmission ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The debate follows the passage of the Electoral Act 2026 by the National Assembly without a clause mandating real-time electronic transmission of results. Bola Tinubu signed the bill into law on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
During the signing ceremony, the President stated that electoral integrity depends more on effective management and human oversight than on real-time electronic transmission.
“What matters is how well the process is managed to prevent confusion and disenfranchisement of Nigerians, allowing democracy to thrive,” he said, adding that elections are ultimately conducted by people regardless of the technology deployed.
Tinubu also urged Nigerians to assess the country’s broadband capacity and technical readiness for real-time transmission both now and in the future.
However, speaking on behalf of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Chairman Gbenga Adebayo said objections to e-transmission were based on outdated or incomplete information.
He advised lawmakers to rely on verified data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), insisting that current network coverage can adequately support electronic transmission of polling unit results to the electoral commission’s portal and collation centres.
According to Adebayo, over 70 per cent of Nigeria is covered by 3G and 4G networks, while 5G services currently reach about 11 per cent of the country. Areas not covered by higher-generation networks operate on 2G, which he said remains capable of transmitting election results electronically.
He rejected what he described as a blanket dismissal of electronic transmission based on misleading claims about infrastructure gaps.
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While acknowledging security challenges in certain regions, particularly in two insurgency-affected states, Adebayo said such issues should be addressed through coordinated efforts rather than used as grounds for nationwide rejection of electronic transmission.
The position aligns with that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which had previously maintained that election results would be automatically transmitted once devices moved into areas with network coverage.
The controversy over real-time transmission has continued to generate public debate as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
