Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has urged the National Assembly to urgently amend the Electoral Act to make the real-time electronic transmission of election results compulsory, warning that public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process is rapidly declining.
Gatekeepers News reports that the call was made on Sunday in Abuja by Lucius Ugorji, the Archbishop of Owerri and outgoing president of the conference, during the opening session of the 2026 first plenary meeting of the bishops at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.
Speaking on the theme, The Common Good and Leadership in Nigeria, Ugorji expressed deep concern over the sharp drop in voter participation, noting that turnout fell drastically from 69 per cent in 2003 to just 23 per cent in the 2023 general elections.
“This decline says a lot about citizens’ trust in the electoral process and calls into question the legitimacy of elected officials in a democratic dispensation with the mandate of an ever-decreasing minority”, Ugorji said.
He stressed that to reverse this troubling trend, federal lawmakers must ensure that the Electoral Act clearly provides for the mandatory transmission of results from polling units through the bimodal voter accreditation system directly to the INEC result viewing portal. According to him, this measure is crucial to safeguard the integrity of votes and to block any form of manipulation.
The cleric explained that compulsory digital transmission would help “prevent any human tampering with the expressed will of the electorate”, adding that credible elections remain the foundation of democracy and national stability.
Ugorji also criticised what he described as inconsistencies in legislative actions, pointing out that while the National Assembly approved the 2025 Tax Act, which mandates digital filing and record-keeping, it appeared to have weakened similar digital transparency measures in the electoral system. He warned lawmakers against sending conflicting signals to citizens and the international community.
“The honourable members of the NASS should not allow themselves to be perceived as talking out of both sides of the mouth. The world is watching! Above all, God is also watching,” he said.
Beyond electoral reforms, the CBCN president raised alarm over worsening insecurity across the country, condemning what he termed “senseless massacres” and citing recent killings in parts of Kwara State. He said the persistent violence has continued to claim innocent lives, displace communities, and deepen fear, calling on authorities to take firmer steps to protect citizens.
He further lamented the economic damage caused by illegal mining activities, which he said cost Nigeria an estimated nine billion dollars annually, depriving communities and the government of critical revenue needed for development.
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion and former Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mike Omeri, urged political and public office holders to adopt the principles of servant leadership.
He said leaders must prioritise the welfare of citizens, reduce social inequality, and work deliberately to close the widening gap between the rich and the poor in the country.
