Tambuwal calls for electoral reforms, says votes often distorted

A former Governor of Sokoto State and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said politicians exploit weaknesses in Nigeria’s electoral system to influence election outcomes.

Tambuwal made the remarks during an interview on Prime Time, a political programme on Arise Television, where he spoke on challenges affecting the credibility of elections in the country.

According to him, election results in Nigeria are often not a true reflection of the votes cast by the electorate, noting that manipulation frequently occurs during the collation process from polling units to higher levels.

He said gaps in the system are deliberately exploited by politicians, sometimes with the support of compromised officials, leading to outcomes that differ from the will of voters.

Tambuwal also identified issues such as technological failures, delays in voting, and problems with the transmission of results as factors that weaken public confidence in the electoral process. He added that some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may also be compromised.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives called for comprehensive electoral reforms, stressing the need to strengthen the system to ensure transparency and credibility.

He expressed support for the electronic transmission of results, saying reforms that improve the integrity of elections should be pursued regardless of political interests.