The issue is structure, not electronic transmission — Reno Omokri tells Obi, Opposition

Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has stated that calls for real-time electronic transmission of election results by Peter Obi and other opposition figures stem from a lack of grassroots party structure.

Speaking on Politics Today Channels TV, Omokri argued that political parties with strong structures should focus on deploying agents across all polling units rather than relying solely on technology.

According to him, parties are expected to have agents present at every polling unit during elections to monitor the process and sign result sheets.

“If you have your party agents in every polling unit, it is impossible to rig,” he said.

“At the polling unit, the presiding officer signs the result and all party agents sign. If anything different is declared elsewhere, you can tender that result sheet in court.”

Omokri referenced Form EC8A, the official result sheet used at polling units, explaining that once duly signed by party agents and the presiding officer, it becomes a legal document that can be relied upon in the event of disputes.

He claimed that during the 2023 general elections, the Labour Party did not have agents in all polling units nationwide, particularly in areas where it performed poorly.

“In polling units where they lost and did not have agents, they assumed they were cheated,” Omokri stated.

“The issue is not about real-time transmission. The issue is structure. Whether it is ADC or Labour Party, get your party agents in every polling unit in Nigeria.”

While acknowledging concerns about electronic transmission, Omokri maintained that strengthening party presence at the grassroots level remains the most reliable safeguard against electoral malpractice.