Nigeria’s major telecommunications operators have dismissed assertions by some National Assembly members that the country lacks the infrastructure for real-time electronic transmission of election results ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking under the umbrella of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), leading operators including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, and T2 Mobile argued that the country has sufficient network coverage to support electronic transmission of polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (iREV) and collation centres.
ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, said any assessment of telecom coverage not sourced from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) should not be considered reliable.
“As we speak today, over 70 percent of the country is covered by 3G and 4G networks, 5G has reached about 11 per cent coverage, while the remaining areas are on 2G,” he stated.
“Even in reality, 2G is strong enough to transmit results electronically. We cannot accept a blanket ban on electronic transmission based on half-truths about our infrastructure and investments.”
Adebayo acknowledged security challenges in parts of the country, particularly in about two states affected by insurgency, but stressed that such issues should be addressed collaboratively rather than used to justify a nationwide rejection of electronic transmission.
ALTON’s stance aligns with INEC, which previously dismissed similar concerns ahead of the 2023 elections, noting that where network challenges exist, results uploaded to iREV automatically transmit once devices enter areas with coverage.
As preparations for the 2027 elections intensify, civil society groups and voters continue to view electronic transmission as vital for transparency and trust, warning that attempts to restrict it could undermine democratic accountability.
