Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has renewed calls for the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results, warning that failure to do so would continue to cost Nigerians their lives during elections.
Amaechi made the call on Tuesday while joining protesters at the National Assembly in Abuja, where civil society groups, youths, and opposition figures staged a sit-in protest against proposed amendments to the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He asserted that making electronic transmission compulsory would drastically reduce election-related violence.
“The advantage is that very few people will die on election day; very few Nigerians. You are saving the lives of Nigerians,” Amaechi told protesters, lamenting that election seasons in Nigeria are often marked by bloodshed while politicians remain insulated by security forces.
The former governor participated in the protest alongside his son, a medical doctor, explaining later that his presence was both symbolic and precautionary.
“I came with my son in case anything happened. If people are injured, at least there will be medical help,” he told journalists, adding that leaders must stand physically with the people during critical moments rather than observe from afar.
The protest followed growing controversy over whether the amended Electoral Act should compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results electronically in real time or leave the process at the commission’s discretion.
Protesters carried mattresses and pillows, declaring they would not leave the National Assembly until lawmakers acceded to their demands.
Amaechi accused political elites of deliberately resisting reforms that would make rigging difficult.
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“If you think they won’t rig, you’re wasting your time,” he said. “To stop them from rigging, we must come out in large numbers. When they see the number of people who have come out, the police will join.”
He expressed frustration with what he described as government indifference to citizens’ lives, saying electoral violence persists because authorities refuse to embrace transparency.
“The problem is not even Ribadu. Even the president doesn’t think the citizens matter,” Amaechi said, adding that the only way to protect voters is through compulsory transmission and re-transmission of results.
He also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of opposing electronic transmission out of fear of losing elections, urging opposition parties to mobilise against what he called a democratic setback.
“I believe the opposition parties—PDP, ADC, everybody—should come out to protest against the attempt of one party,” he said.
“What are they afraid of? They said they have 31 governors. The only way a good politician knows he has done well is by the people.”
Drawing from international law, Amaechi warned against excessive force on voters, saying those responsible for election-related killings would one day be held accountable.
“There is a number you are not allowed to kill. Whoever gave that instruction must account for it,” he said.
He further criticised the Tinubu administration, saying living conditions have worsened compared to the period he served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, and alleged that corruption had increased under President Bola Tinubu.
Asked about Tinubu’s chances in the 2027 presidential election, Amaechi was blunt.
“Let’s wait and see,” he said. “It will be impossible for the incumbent to win. The will of the people must prevail.”
Amaechi’s intervention echoes similar calls by other opposition figures, including former presidential candidate Peter Obi, as pressure mounts on lawmakers to enshrine real-time electronic transmission of results as a legal requirement rather than an option.
