INEC Can Deliver Election Results in Three Hours If It Fully Embraces Technology — Aregbesola

The Interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has said that Nigeria has the capacity to get election results within three hours if the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, deploys technology to its fullest potential.

Aregbesola stated this on Monday while speaking at a panel discussion on Innovation in Electoral Technology 2015–2025, where he lamented that Nigeria was yet to maximize the use of modern tools to enhance transparency and speed in its electoral process.

He cited examples of countries such as Brazil, Venezuela, Israel, and Ghana, which he said had achieved significant efficiency through full technological adoption in election management.

“As to technology, I don’t believe we are using it to the optimum level,” Aregbesola said. “India is a subcontinent with over a billion people, yet results are not delayed. The same applies to Brazil, Venezuela, Israel, and even Ghana election results are ready in less than three hours once voting ends.”

The former governor of Osun State challenged INEC to publicly demonstrate the functionality of its result monitoring module, insisting that the commission must prove that real-time transmission of results is not beyond reach.

“We understand there is a result monitoring module that makes results available almost immediately. Let INEC come forward and demonstrate it. Nigerians deserve to see how it works,” he said.

Aregbesola further stressed that credible elections are not the sole responsibility of INEC, adding that other institutions, particularly the judiciary, must respect the will of the people.

“It’s not only INEC. The judiciary also has a role. We must save the judiciary and ensure it does not usurp the power of the people to choose their leaders,” he added.

The former minister reiterated his party’s call for deep electoral reforms, saying that embracing technology and institutional integrity remains the only path to restoring public trust in Nigeria’s democratic system.