Tambuwal: Elections in Nigeria Not Fully Decided by Voters — ‘Things Happen During Collation’

Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto State and ex-speaker of the House of Representatives, has raised concerns over the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process, saying election outcomes are not entirely determined by voters.
Tambuwal made the remarks while speaking on the state of Nigeria’s democracy, arguing that what happens during the collation of results often distorts the true will of the electorate.
“It is not completely decided by the electorate. I can say that without mincing words,” Tambuwal said. “From polling units to wards, local governments, states and even at the national level, things happen that misrepresent what voters actually voted for.”
The former governor explained that while Nigerians often turn out to vote with clear expectations, irregularities during the transmission and collation of results frequently undermine public confidence in the process. According to him, these issues go beyond isolated incidents and point to systemic weaknesses that must be addressed if elections are to truly reflect the people’s choice.
Tambuwal stressed that electoral reforms should focus not only on voting day procedures but also on safeguarding results throughout the collation chain. He noted that transparency, strict enforcement of electoral laws and accountability for officials involved in the process are critical to restoring trust.
He also urged political stakeholders, civil society groups and election observers to pay closer attention to collation centres, describing them as “critical points where the integrity of the vote can either be protected or compromised.”
The comments come amid renewed debates over Nigeria’s electoral system following recent elections, with opposition figures and civic groups repeatedly calling for deeper reforms to ensure that votes count and are accurately reflected in final results.
Tambuwal’s remarks have since sparked conversations online, with many Nigerians echoing concerns about collation processes and calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen transparency measures ahead of future polls.
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