Gịnị ka ị ga-eme ichekwa votu site n'aghụghọ ntụgharị vootu na ịzụrụ votu?

Yet that same INEC undermined the use of that technology during the elections and collation process and declared as winner someone who clearly did not win the Presidential election. They then went further to take sides in the courts in a dogfight to defend their illegality. Who would convince the millions of Nigerians to vote in future elections after they suffered endlessly on queues to register to vote, to collect PVCs and to vote, based on INEC’s assurances only to see their votes stolen and given to someone they did not vote for? When people lose trust and confidence in elections, democracy is practically on life support. And by affirming and legitimizing the continued lack of transparency in our electoral system the courts are continuing to usurp the rights of voters to elect their leaders. The other grave implication is that contestants in Nigeria’s elections should do whatever is necessary to be declared the winner. That includes identity theft, impersonation, forging of educational and other documents, perjury, and violence.

This afternoon, I received a delegation of young Nigerians led by Pastor Ukpola O. Chinedu from the Nigeria Electoral Reform Coalition (NERCO). I could relate to the urgency in their demands that the National Assembly amend the current electoral act to make electronic transmission of results from polling units mandatory. They are deeply worried that the current Act, which left the mode of transmission of results at the discretion of INEC, negatively impacted the 2023 general elections. They informed me that the group is not only pressuring the National Assembly on mandatory electronic transmission of results but also on taking the powers of appointing INEC officials from the President, vesting it on a transparent recruitment process by citizens. These efforts, they said, are aimed at demanding that every vote counts in our elections. I agree with the group that demanding transparent and credible elections is the way to go.

This afternoon, I received the Enugu Polling Booths Vanguard for Atiku, a group chiefly concerned with the sanctity of the ballots, led by Chief Obodoeze Ocho. They believe that every vote must count in 2027. I fully agree with them that protecting votes at the Polling Units level is vital for the coming elections. I told them that, for us to have credible elections that earn voters' trust, citizens must take the responsibility of safeguarding votes seriously. Votes will count if they are protected by those who cast them. -AA

Do not exchange four years of your future for one afternoon of inducement. Fellow Nigerians, and most importantly, the young Nigerians gathered here today, the heartbeat of our nation, and those following this programme across the length and breadth of our country, perhaps checking their phones to see whether I am trending yet, good morning. Look at me. Look closely. I have spent the better part of my life fighting for democracy, justice and the progress of our beloved country. Time has given me experience, but it has not diminished my conviction. The fire that inspired me as a young student activist still burns today because every day I see millions of young Nigerians denied opportunities that should have been theirs. I stand before you today not merely as a former Vice President or an elder statesman, but as a lifelong democrat who has never stopped believing that Nigeria can become the great nation its people deserve.

That must end. Your vote is far more valuable than any amount of money a politician can offer. Do not exchange four years of your future for one afternoon of inducement. A bag of rice will disappear. A few thousand naira will be spent. A campaign T-shirt will eventually fade. But the consequences of electing incompetent leadership will remain with you long after the campaign has ended. When you sell your vote, you are not merely exchanging a ballot paper. You are surrendering opportunities that belong to your generation. You are surrendering better schools. Better hospitals. Safer communities. Reliable electricity. More jobs. A stronger economy. And a government that truly works for everyone. Never underestimate the value of your vote. It remains the most powerful instrument any citizen possesses in a democracy. My dear young Nigerians, Please do not allow yourselves to become instruments of political violence.

Every election season, some politicians suddenly discover that you are "leaders." They give you caps. They give you T-shirts. They give you a little money. They ask you to insult opponents, disrupt campaigns or intimidate voters. But immediately after the election, they disappear. Your phone stops ringing. The promises vanish. And you are left exactly where they found you. Do not mortgage your future to people who remember your name only during campaigns. The greatest service you can render any politician is not fighting for him. It is insisting that he earns your vote through ideas, character, competence and integrity. That is the foundation of every successful democracy. And that is the kind of political culture we must build together. So, the question before us is simple: How do we convert frustration into national renewal? How do we transform the largest youth population in Africa into the greatest democratic movement our continent has ever witnessed?

Let me remind those in authority: elections are civil engagements, not military operations. Ballot papers are not bullets. Voters are not enemy combatants. Opposition members are not insurgents. If Nigeria possesses this enormous security capacity, Nigerians are entitled to ask a simple question: why is the same overwhelming force not being deployed against the terrorists, kidnappers and bandits who are killing our people, abducting our children and driving citizens from their communities? Our security forces must protect voters, not frighten them. They must secure the ballot, not create an atmosphere of siege around it. And to INEC, I say this clearly: Osun is a test. There must be no mysterious glitches. No unexplained delays. No manipulation of the process. Election materials must arrive promptly. Accredited voters must be allowed to vote freely. Votes must be counted honestly, and results must be transmitted transparently and in accordance with the law.

President Tinubu and his administration must resist any temptation to turn institutions of the Nigerian state into instruments of partisan advantage. The police belong to Nigeria. The military belongs to Nigeria. INEC belongs to the Nigerian people. None of them belongs to the APC. And let nobody misunderstand our demand for peaceful elections as weakness. We are asking only for what the Constitution and democracy guarantee every Nigerian: the freedom to vote and the right to have that vote count. If our institutions cannot conduct a free, fair, peaceful and transparent election in one state, Nigerians will legitimately ask what confidence they should have in the general election next year. The world is watching Osun. Nigerians are watching. History is taking notes. So my message to INEC, the security agencies and the Tinubu administration is simple: Let the people vote. Let every vote count.

That is how political change happens too. Every young Nigerian who decides that hopelessness is no longer acceptable adds another stream. Every young person who registers, organises and decides to lead adds strength to the current. One person may be ignored, but millions cannot be ignored. One voice may be silenced, but a generation determined to shape its future cannot be wished away. So when you return to your states, local governments, wards, campuses and communities, do not allow the energy of this summit to end in this hall. Take it with you. Organise it. Multiply it. Turn it into participation, ideas, candidates and votes. Let the river rise. Let it rise across every ward, every community and every state until it becomes a democratic current strong enough to carry Nigeria towards the future its young people deserve. For too long, you have been called the leaders of tomorrow. I say again:

● Build transparent systems, protect whistleblowers, strengthen oversight institutions, and enforce real consequences for misconduct 4. Build a zero-impunity, rule-of-law system. Details: ● Ensure that the law applies equally to everyone, regardless of status or political power, and that disobedience of court orders and selective justice are not tolerated 5. Ensure legislative vote transparency. Details: ● Publish the voting records of all legislators on a regular basis (quarterly or per legislative session) 6. Modernize land governance and guarantee secure property rights. Unlock the economic value of land by making ownership clear, secure, and easily transferable, turning land into a reliable, bankable asset for Nigerians. Details: ● Make land titling fast, transparent, and de-politicized, removing discretionary bottlenecks in approvals ● Introduce a time-bound system targeting a "30-day digital title" for standard applications ● Build and deploy digital Land Information Systems (LIS) across all states as the default standard ● Create unified, tamper-resistant land registries to reduce fraud, disputes, and informal land practices ● Enable landowners to use titled property as collateral to access credit and invest in productivity ● Standardize processes and fees to ensure predictability, affordability, and ease of access

● Make electronic transmission of results mandatory from polling units to prevent tampering ● Introduce electronic collation systems for higher-level aggregation to eliminate manual manipulation ● Mandate the real-time upload of Form EC8B and other result sheets for public verification ● Limit result aggregation to the ward level, ensuring transparency and reducing opportunities for interference at higher levels ● Establish an Electoral Offences Commission to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes independently ● Create an Office of the Independent Chief Elections Auditor under the Commission to audit election materials before voting, monitor the process before final declaration, and conduct post-election audits for accountability ● Require the use of body cameras for all election officials and security personnel on election duty to ensure transparency and deter misconduct 47