Nasir El‑Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adopt electronic voting and real‑time transmission of results for the 2027 general elections. Speaking at an interactive session in Owerri on 5 September 2025, he warned that the current system is vulnerable to human interference and urged a shift to technology‑based voting.
El‑Rufai pointed to Kaduna’s local government elections in 2018 and 2021, where electronic voting was successfully used, as evidence of its feasibility. He argued that INEC has ample time to install the necessary infrastructure nationwide before the 2027 polls. According to him, electronic voting machines can be configured to verify voters, generate a paper trail, and transmit results directly to collation centres, thereby strengthening democratic stability and eliminating electoral malpractice.
He recalled that during his tenure the ruling party lost some councils under electronic voting, but the outcomes were accepted. El‑Rufai maintained that the only obstacle to nationwide implementation is political will. His appeal comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, a period marked by past challenges to electoral integrity. The adoption of electronic voting could represent a significant step toward greater transparency and accountability.
INEC has been working to improve the electoral process, and the integration of technology could play a key role in building public trust and ensuring the integrity of future elections. El‑Rufai’s suggestion underscores the importance of electoral reform in Nigeria, and the discussion is likely to continue as the country moves toward the 2027 polls, focusing on solutions that enhance the electoral process and strengthen democratic institutions.
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