Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, has reiterated his opposition to election malpractice in Nigeria, calling for stronger electoral reforms and improved transparency in the country’s democratic process.………
Oshiomhole made the remarks during an interview featured in a video published on the official YouTube channel of Arise News on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. During the discussion, the former governor of Edo State spoke extensively about his political journey, his experience with electoral disputes, and the importance of protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s voting system.
The senator explained that his views on electoral reforms were shaped largely by personal experiences, particularly the controversial 2007 governorship election in Edo State, which he claimed was manipulated against him before the courts later overturned the outcome. According to Oshiomhole, the events surrounding that election strengthened his commitment to advocating for free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria.
Reflecting on the experience, he said, “I didn’t want another Nigerian to go through what I went through in 2007, when the PDP, under its ‘do-or-die’ policy, completely rigged me out.”
The statement referred to the political climate during the 2007 elections, a period widely criticized by observers and opposition parties over allegations of widespread irregularities and electoral misconduct in several parts of the country. Oshiomhole eventually secured victory through a legal challenge after the courts nullified the original election result and declared him the rightful winner of the governorship contest.
During the interview, the senator also addressed ongoing debates surrounding the Electoral Act and the increasing use of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process. He argued that innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission of election results can significantly improve transparency, but only if they are supported by reliable infrastructure and effective implementation.
According to him, technological reforms alone are not enough to guarantee credible elections if the supporting systems remain weak or vulnerable to failure. He warned that technical breakdowns and inadequate infrastructure could create legal disputes and undermine public trust in election outcomes.
Oshiomhole maintained that the primary objective of any electoral reform should be to safeguard the votes cast by Nigerians and prevent manipulation at polling units. He stressed that confidence in democracy can only grow when citizens are convinced that their votes truly count and that the electoral process is transparent from start to finish.
The former labour leader further stated that politicians, electoral officials, and other stakeholders must collectively work toward strengthening democratic institutions and improving public confidence in elections. According to him, credible elections remain essential to political stability and national development.
His comments come amid continuing discussions across Nigeria over electoral reforms, particularly following recent elections that sparked debates over technology deployment, result transmission, and the conduct of electoral officials. Questions surrounding the effectiveness of BVAS devices, internet connectivity in remote areas, and the legal interpretation of electronic result transmission have remained central topics in political and legal circles.
