Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto State and ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, has revealed that elections in Nigeria are not entirely decided by the electorate.
Speaking on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme, the senator representing Sokoto South in the Senate attributed the flaws in the nation’s polls to systemic weaknesses, compromise by officials, and exploitation of loopholes by politicians.
“It is not completely decided by the electorate. I can say that without mincing words. From polling units to wards, local governments, states and even at the national level, things happen that misrepresent what voters actually voted for,” Tambuwal said.
He explained that manipulation occurs at multiple stages of the electoral process, from polling units to result collation at the national level.
He further sated: “The system is compromised through INEC, the courts and the politicians because the politicians try to find corners to cut. So wherever there’s a loophole, politicians take advantage of that loophole.”
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Tambuwal also pointed to technical failures, late commencement of polls, and the non-transmission of results electronically as contributing factors.
“It is a combination of both. Politicians exploit loopholes wherever they exist. INEC also has challenges, from failure of technology, late commencement of elections, failure to transmit results, and compromise of officials,” he said.
