A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has declared that no country in the world currently operates real-time electronic transmission of election results.
Ogunvoice reports that Omokri made the assertion on Thursday while reacting to criticisms of the amended Electoral Act 2026 by opposition leaders, who had earlier rejected the legislation recently assented to by President Bola Tinubu.
Opposition figures had addressed a press conference in Abuja where they faulted aspects of the new electoral law, calling for reforms that would ensure greater transparency, including real-time electronic transmission of results.
Responding, Omokri challenged prominent opposition figures to provide evidence of any country currently operating such a system.
“I challenge Senator David Mark, Dr Ajuji Ahmed and everyone at that press conference to name just one country that has real-time electronic transmission of election results,” he said.
“No country currently possesses real-time electronic transmission of election results. Even in the United States, where Starlink originates, such a system does not exist.”
The ambassador-designate argued that what many Nigerians perceive as real-time transmission is often media projection based on exit polls rather than official results released by electoral bodies.
“Requesting Starlink to provide this capability is similar to asking for something even its country of origin lacks. The perception of real-time results often stems from media projections based on exit polls, not actual election outcomes,” he stated.
“This distinction is crucial, as official results, compiled by bodies like the Federal Electoral Commission, typically emerge much later.”
Omokri further warned against overreliance on early projections, citing historical precedent.
“Relying solely on media projections can be misleading, as demonstrated by the 2000 election, where an incorrect media projection led to a premature concession that later had to be withdrawn,” he added.
While expressing support for electronic transmission in principle, Omokri maintained that real-time implementation remains impracticable at present.
“While the concept of electronic transmission of results is supported, its real-time implementation is currently unachievable,” he said.
