Electoral Law Amendment: “Akpabio Is a Scumbag, and He Knows Why” — El-Rufai

Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has publicly criticised Senate President Godswill Akpabio over the Senate’s rejection of a proposed amendment to the Electoral Act that would have made real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory.

Speaking in an interview with Trust TV, El-Rufai said, “It’s not the Senate that is the problem. Akpabio, who is a scumbag by every definition, is the problem. He is nothing but a lapdog. The senators will have to come together and protest and prevent that from happening when they reconvene.”

He added, addressing suggestions that his language was too harsh, “I do not consider him distinguished. We’ve known each other since the 1990s. He knows why.”

The controversy follows the Senate’s decision to reject the mandatory real-time transmission proposal while retaining the existing discretionary system that allows the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to determine how results are transmitted. Critics have warned that rejecting mandatory real-time reporting could reduce transparency and weaken electoral safeguards ahead of the 2027 general election.

Responding to the criticism, Senate President Akpabio defended the decision, saying, “Real-time mandates could pose challenges in areas with poor internet network coverage or insecurity. INEC should determine the mode and timing of result transmission within the framework of the law.”

The Senate is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday to revisit the amendment amid calls for lawmakers to review the changes.