In a recent interview with The Cabal Newspaper, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), expressed urgent concerns regarding the ongoing resistance to the integration of technology into Nigeria’s electoral processes.
He emphasized that the debate surrounding election technology is less about feasibility and more about control.
Rafsanjani strongly advocated for the immediate incorporation of technological advancements into Nigeria’s Electoral Act, stating that this is crucial to preventing fraud during the transmission of election results.
He dismissed the notion that Nigerians are incapable of using technology for electoral purposes, labeling it a “convenient fraud.”
He pointed out that millions of citizens across the country, including those in rural areas, effectively utilize digital platforms daily for activities such as banking, government services, and social media.
The CISLAC director warned that attempts to undermine electoral reforms, particularly those related to the electronic transmission of results, represent a foundational form of “electoral corruption.”
He argued that obstructing technological integration leaves open vulnerabilities for manipulation during the collation process, ultimately facilitating rigging.
Rafsanjani cautioned that the groundwork for compromising the integrity of the 2027 elections is already being laid. He asserted that a weak or ambiguous electoral law fosters instability, violence, and crises, rather than promoting peace and good governance.
As the chair of Transparency International Nigeria and the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Rafsanjani urged legislators to prioritize the national interest. He stressed that any legislation that obstructs transparency in the electoral process is complicit in undermining democracy.
He called upon civil society organizations to maintain advocacy efforts and apply public pressure to expose anti-democratic maneuvers, asserting that silence in this matter would guarantee failure.
According to Rafsanjani, Nigeria does not lack access to technology; rather, the country is facing a deliberate resistance to credible elections.
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