Post by Henry Emeka (@Emekus)
Respectfully why Nigeria’s e‑transmission and PVC rollout are facing delays
The confusion over INEC’s ₦395.12 million allocation for electronic transmission of election results comes from a mix of budgetary constraints, legal ambiguity, and technical challenges.
Budget and cost realities
INEC has proposed ₦873.78 billion for the 2027 general elections, with ₦395.12 million earmarked for nationwide electronic transmission — covering SIM cards, system setup, integration, technical support, and a one‑year data bundle However, telecom tariff hikes approved in 2025 (up to 50% in some cases) have driven up costs for calls, SMS, and data, meaning the actual cost could be higher INEC currently relies on external service providers and does not own its own network, which adds to operational complexity
Why not fully electronic yet?
The Electoral Act 2022 does not mandate electronic transmission — it only allows INEC to decide how results are transferred The Guardian Nigeria News. In 2023, INEC used the IReV portal for real‑time results, but courts ruled it was not legally binding, allowing manual paper results to override electronic ones The Guardian Nigeria News. This legal gap means INEC can choose to use electronic transmission, but it is not compulsory, and the system is still being tested and scaled.
Why hand counting persists
Hand counting remains the fallback because:
The legal framework does not require electronic transmission, so INEC can still rely on paper results.
The e‑transmission system is still being rolled out, and not all polling units may have the required SIMs, data, or connectivity.
There is a need to ensure reliability and avoid disputes, especially in areas with poor telecom infrastructure.
Why the website may not work
The IReV portal and related systems are still in the deployment phase. Technical issues, bandwidth limitations, and the need to integrate with polling unit systems can cause downtime or poor performance. INEC has acknowledged the need for a dedicated communications network to ensure transparency and reliability
Why 240 million Nigerians can’t get their PVCs
The PVC (Personal Voter Card) rollout has been slow due to:
Limited printing and distribution capacity.
Inadequate logistics to reach remote areas.
Technical and administrative bottlenecks in issuing and verifying cards.
The fact that the PVC is part of the broader voter registration and identity verification process, which is still being scaled.
Legislative and funding push
The Senate Committee on Electoral Matters has recommended an additional ₦30 billion to boost logistics and operational efficiency, bringing the total suggested budget to ₦903 billion. This reflects concerns that without more resources, the e‑transmission and PVC rollout will remain incomplete.
The ₦395 million figure is the current budgeted amount for e‑transmission but rising telecom costs and legal ambiguity mean the rollout is gradual. Hand counting persists because the law does not mandate it, the system is still being tested, and not all areas have the infrastructure. The website issues stem from technical and connectivity challenges, while the PVC shortage is due to logistical and capacity constraints. More funding and legislative reforms are needed to ensure nationwide coverage and reliability.
https://corenewsnetwork.ng/inec-races-to-restore-suppressed-constituencies-ahead-of-2027-polls/
https://punchng.com/n395m-for-e-transmission-out-of-inecs-n873bn-budget/
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