Nigeria’s major telecommunications operators have declared the country’s network infrastructure capable of supporting real-time electronic transmission of election results, reinforcing earlier assessments by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the vast majority of polling units are within mobile coverage areas.
Real time transmission of results during elections is possible they say.
According to INEC, a joint technical evaluation conducted with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and leading telecom firms found that 93 per cent of polling units nationwide enjoy mobile network coverage. The commission added that the remaining seven per cent could be covered through alternative technological solutions.
Some Telecom executives who spoke on the development maintained that the country’s broadband capacity, network reach and bandwidth strength are sufficient to handle electronic transmission of results. They, however, pointed out that despite technological readiness, Nigeria’s electoral system continues to rely predominantly on paper-based processes.
In a position paper revisited amid renewed electoral reform debates, INEC reaffirmed that electronic transmission of election results is technically achievable with existing national infrastructure.
The document, titled Position Paper No.1/2021 on Electronic Transmission of Election Results, was signed on September 9, 2021, by former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. In it, the commission stated that it had already “developed adequate structures and processes” to support digital transmission.
Ahead of the 2019 general elections, INEC had constituted a Joint Technical Committee with the NCC to assess readiness for electronic transmission. The committee was co-chaired by the NCC’s Commissioner for Technical Services, Ubale Maska, and INEC National Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mustapha Lecky. Its report, submitted on August 9, 2018, concluded that mobile networks sufficiently covered 93 per cent of polling units and had the capacity to accommodate the rest.
The report also assigned polling units to major operators including MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9Mobile and recommended secure configurations such as Access Point Name (APN) and Virtual Private Network (VPN) integration to connect to INEC’s backend systems.
Yet, despite the positive findings, INEC did not deploy real-time electronic transmission during the 2019 elections. The commission cited the absence of an explicit legal mandate under the Electoral Act at the time, explaining that while technical viability had been established, clear legislative backing was lacking.
Describing electronic transmission as both “desirable and doable,” INEC argued that public discourse on the issue had generated “more heat than light,” often fuelled by misconceptions.
The commission clarified that electronic transmission is distinct from internet voting or electronic balloting. It stressed that it is not proposing internet-based voting, but rather the electronic collation and transmission of polling unit results to determine final outcomes.
INEC also distinguished electronic transmission from the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). While the portal allows scanned copies of result sheets to be uploaded for public viewing, electronic transmission involves digitally sending results directly into the collation system.
Addressing concerns about past technical challenges, INEC dismissed claims linking Smart Card Reader performance to transmission capacity, noting that the device is not permanently connected to a data network and is not used for transmitting results.
On network limitations, the commission rejected assertions that 2G coverage is insufficient for data transmission, explaining that telecom regulators and operators were fully aware of network realities when they concluded in 2018 that electronic transmission was feasible.
INEC further argued that it does not require certification from the NCC before deploying electronic transmission, citing Section 160 of the Constitution, which empowers the commission to regulate its procedures independently.
Interest in the 2021 position paper has resurged following fresh amendments to the Electoral Act signed by President Bola Tinubu on February 18, 2026.
While the revised law permits the deployment of digital tools such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and an online results portal, it stops short of mandating real-time electronic transmission. Instead, the decision remains at INEC’s discretion. Physical result sheets – Form EC8A continue to serve as the legal basis for collation in cases where technology fails.
Meanwhile, some Industry leaders insist that from a technical standpoint, the country is ready.
For instance, Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said existing infrastructure and bandwidth data demonstrate that real-time transmission is achievable nationwide. He noted that the NCC maintains comprehensive coverage maps and performance metrics to guide operational decisions.
Another senior telecom executive, speaking anonymously, added that operators are not seeking special government intervention ahead of the 2027 polls. He pointed to satellite technology as a viable backup in remote areas, explaining that devices equipped with satellite interfaces could transmit results even where GSM coverage is weak.
