The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to mobilise workers and citizens for a mass boycott of the 2027 general elections if electronic transmission of election results is not fully implemented.
The warning follows renewed concerns over the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process and what the labour body described as a deliberate rollback of reforms meant to guarantee transparent elections.
Speaking on the issue, NLC leaders said the refusal to fully adopt e-transmission of results undermines public trust and strengthens manipulation at collation centres, a problem that has repeatedly tainted past elections.
According to the congress, Nigerians cannot be expected to continue participating in elections where votes do not transparently translate into outcomes.
“The credibility of elections begins with the credibility of the process. Without electronic transmission, the integrity of the ballot is compromised,” the NLC said.
The labour body warned that voter apathy, already at historic levels, could worsen ahead of 2027 if confidence in the electoral system continues to decline.
The threat comes amid lingering controversy over the 2023 general elections, where delays and failures in uploading results electronically triggered widespread disputes, court cases and public outrage.
Labour leaders also criticised lawmakers for what they described as lack of political will to strengthen the Electoral Act, accusing the political class of benefiting from loopholes that weaken accountability.
Analysts say a boycott by organised labour could significantly affect voter turnout and legitimacy of the 2027 polls, especially given NLC’s influence across both public and private sectors.
As pressure mounts, attention is now on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Assembly to clarify their positions on e-transmission and broader electoral reforms ahead of the next election cycle.
