Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has alleged that the Tinubu administration could exploit perceived gaps in the Electoral Act to influence the 2027 election results.
He said the current government lacks confidence in securing a free and fair poll.
In an interview on Wednesday with DCL Hausa, El-Rufai argued that retaining provisions permitting manual transmission of results in areas without internet access opens the door for interference before the results reach collation centres. “Starlink has connection all over the country we can utilise that to ensure access so live election results transmission can occur. If that is included into the law and Tinubu approves, then this will aid greatly in ensuring free and fair election because leaving this clause open means results can still be manipulated before it reaches the collation center,” he said.
He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of pushing to retain the old method of result collation under the pretext of poor internet connectivity.
“We know how they think; that is why the APC wants the old method to remain by claiming there is no network on the day of the elections,” el-Rufai said. The former governor proposed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) contract satellite internet providers such as Starlink to ensure nationwide connectivity during elections.
“We could connect to Starlink, INEC can independently contract them to eliminate any possibility of manipulation of results,” he stated.
Dismissing claims that some communities lacked internet access, El-Rufai said, “I heard one senator lying that in his village there is no internet, but it’s embarrassing that a former governor of eight years is making such claims.”
He warned against any attempt to shut down internet services on election day, referencing Uganda’s recent experience.
“We know their plans, like the recent incidence in Uganda where the internet connection was shutdown completely on the day of the election, which can’t happen in Nigeria; we are above that,” he said.
“They might use their power to try and enforce internet shutdown on the day of the election because they are not God-fearing; they don’t even fear the devil who is their companion,” he said.
While describing the push for electronic transmission of election results as “a great progress in the right direction,” he insisted Nigerians must remain vigilant.
“We and all Nigerians will pay attention to ensure no manipulation is done by using this loophole that election results can be transmitted using the old method if there is no internet in the area,” he added.