Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement electronic voting and real-time transmission of results for the 2027 general elections. Speaking at an interactive session in Owerri on September 5, 2025, El-Rufai emphasized the need to move away from a system vulnerable to human interference.
El-Rufai cited the successful use of electronic voting in Kaduna State’s local government elections in 2018 and 2021 as proof of its feasibility. He noted that INEC has sufficient time to deploy the necessary infrastructure nationwide before the 2027 elections. The former governor suggested that electronic voting machines can be configured to verify voters, provide a paper trail, and transmit results seamlessly to collation centers.
According to El-Rufai, adopting electronic voting would strengthen democratic stability and eliminate electoral malpractices. He recalled that during his tenure, the ruling party lost some councils under electronic voting, but accepted the outcome. El-Rufai maintained that the only barrier to national implementation is political will.
The call for electronic voting comes as Nigeria prepares for its next general elections in 2027. The country has faced challenges with electoral integrity in the past, and the adoption of electronic voting could be a significant step towards addressing these issues. INEC has been working to improve the electoral process, and the use of technology could play a key role in enhancing transparency and accountability.
El-Rufai’s suggestion has highlighted the importance of electoral reform in Nigeria. The implementation of electronic voting and real-time transmission of results could help to build trust in the electoral process and ensure the integrity of the elections. As the country moves towards the 2027 elections, the discussion around electoral reform is likely to continue, with a focus on finding solutions to improve the electoral process and strengthen democratic institutions.
