The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed as false and misleading the claim by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, that the National Assembly rejected mandatory electronic transmission of election results.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, the party described Obi’s remarks as a hasty, sensational, and poorly informed commentary that failed to reflect the true position of the Senate on the matter.
Obi had, on Thursday, publicly criticised the Senate, describing its alleged rejection of electronic transmission of results as a “grave setback to Nigeria’s democracy” and an “unforgivable act of electoral manipulation.” However, the APC insisted that this narrative is entirely inaccurate.
According to the party, recent clarifications by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe reaffirm the Senate’s long-standing support for the use of technology—including electronic transmission of election results—strictly in line with the Electoral Act and subject to the operational capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“These clarifications clearly debunk the false impression that the Senate rejected electronic transmission of results—a claim hastily amplified by Peter Obi without due regard for the facts,” the statement said.
Oladejo explained that at no point did the Senate oppose electronic transmission of results. Rather, it acted prudently by ensuring that the deployment of election technology aligns with INEC’s technical preparedness and guarantees credibility, security, and transparency in the electoral process.
“Contrary to Obi’s assertions, the Senate did not reject electronic transmission of results. It strengthened the legal framework to ensure that any technological innovation used during elections is reliable, secure, and consistent with INEC’s operational readiness,” he stated.
“To portray this responsible legislative approach as a ‘rejection’ either reflects a profound misunderstanding of legislative procedures or a deliberate attempt to distort facts for political advantage.”
The APC further expressed concern over what it described as a desperate and relentless attempt by Obi and his supporters to undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
“At this point, any discerning observer is entitled to ask: why the persistent effort to discredit the electoral process, unnecessarily inflame public sentiments, and undermine confidence in Nigeria’s democracy?” the statement queried.
“Such conduct is neither accidental nor harmless. It fuels mistrust, deepens division, and places personal political ambition above national stability. Thankfully, Nigerians are far more perceptive than these actors assume and can clearly see through the mischief.”
The party also accused Mr Obi of exhibiting a consistent pattern of making comments on complex legislative, economic, and policy issues that are either unsupported by facts or contradicted by official records.
“His selective use of statistics and half-truths—often stripped of context—has further weakened confidence in his public interventions and reinforced the perception of narrative-driven rather than fact-driven engagement,” Mr Oladejo noted.
The APC condemned what it called Mr Obi’s habit of portraying Nigeria in an excessively negative light, especially on international platforms, warning that such actions undermine investor confidence, dampen national morale, and raise serious questions about his sense of patriotism.
Reiterating that truth, accuracy, restraint, and responsibility are essential pillars of democracy, the party stated that the opposition’s continued struggles stem largely from careless misrepresentation of facts and an unchecked urge to disparage the country.
“Nigeria deserves leadership grounded in diligence, emotional intelligence, and genuine patriotism. Once again, the facts have spoken—and once again, Peter Obi got it wrong,” the statement concluded.
