Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto State and ex-speaker of the House of Representatives, has said that elections in Nigeria are not entirely decided by voters, citing irregularities that occur during the collation process.
Speaking on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme, the senator representing Sokoto South blamed systemic weaknesses, compromised officials, and the manipulation of loopholes by politicians for distortions in election outcomes.
According to Tambuwal, voters’ choices are often altered at different stages of the electoral process — from polling units to ward, local government, state, and even national collation levels.
“Elections in Nigeria are not completely decided by the electorate. From polling units to the centre, things happen that misrepresent what voters actually voted for,” he said.
He added that the system is undermined by a combination of factors involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), politicians, and the judiciary.
“The system is compromised through INEC, the courts, and politicians. Politicians always look for loopholes, and wherever those loopholes exist, they exploit them,” Tambuwal stated.
The former governor pointed to technological failures, delayed commencement of voting, non-transmission of results, and compromised officials as major challenges affecting the credibility of elections.
Tambuwal, however, expressed strong support for electoral reforms, including the electronic transmission of results, even if such reforms result in his own electoral defeat.
“I support any reform that will improve the electoral process, including electronic transmission of results — even if I lose an election because of it,” he said.
He also criticised the lack of ideological foundations within Nigeria’s political parties, describing many of them as vehicles for gaining power rather than platforms built on clear principles.
“If it were about ideology, what would President Muhammadu Buhari have been doing in the APC alongside some of the characters in the party?” Tambuwal asked.
