Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has strongly criticised the Senate over its rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results, accusing lawmakers of deliberately paving the way for post-election manipulation.

Speaking during an interview on Trust TV, El-Rufai expressed regret that he was unable to return to Nigeria in time to physically participate in the protest at the National Assembly led by African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, alongside other opposition figures.

“I would have joined Mr. Peter Obi and other party leaders in protesting at the National Assembly to restore the real-time and mandatory transmission of results from polling units,” El-Rufai said.

He argued that electronic transmission remains the most effective tool for curbing electoral fraud, stressing that manipulation typically occurs during result collation rather than at polling units.

“It is the only way we can stop the manipulation that goes on in the collation centres. That is where the real rigging takes place. Rigging does not happen at the polling units; it happens at the collation centres,” he stated.

El-Rufai lamented that although the House of Representatives had approved the provision for mandatory electronic transmission of results, the Senate was allegedly working to frustrate its implementation.

According to him, the reform would significantly improve the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process, but faces resistance because it would weaken the ruling party’s advantage.

“This provision would have improved the quality of our elections, but we all know why the ruling party and the sitting government do not want it. They know they cannot win elections under a transparent system,” he alleged.

He further claimed that post-voting manipulation remains the ruling party’s only path to victory, adding that altering results after votes have been cast gives them a competitive edge.

Meanwhile, protesters on Monday converged on the National Assembly in Abuja to oppose the Senate’s decision against mandatory electronic transmission of election results. Peter Obi was seen leading the protest, calling for urgent electoral reforms to protect the integrity of future elections.