You Can Transfer Millions on Your Phone but Can’t Vote — Sowore Blasts Senate Over Electronic Voting

Former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore has sharply criticised Nigeria’s electoral system, questioning why citizens cannot vote electronically despite the country’s widespread use of mobile banking and digital services.

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has reignited the debate on electronic voting in Nigeria, arguing that the country’s technological capacity makes excuses against digital voting unconvincing.

Speaking amid ongoing discussions on electoral reforms, Sowore stated that Nigerians already carry out high-value financial transactions using their mobile phones, raising questions about why the same technology cannot be applied to voting.

“If you can send millions of naira from your phone, you should be able to vote from your phone,” Sowore said.

He further dismissed claims that poor network coverage makes electronic voting impractical, insisting that political elites have no difficulty accessing network services wherever they travel.

Sowore alleged that senior political figures, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole, consistently find mobile network access across the country, undermining arguments that connectivity challenges prevent real-time electronic transmission of election results.

“There’s no state Akpabio goes to that he doesn’t find network… There’s no state Oshiomhole goes to that he doesn’t find network,” he added.

The comments come amid controversy surrounding recent amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly debates over electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).