The Because Of Our Tomorrow (BOOT) Party has warned that shifting Nigeria’s 2027 general elections to November would negatively affect the electoral process and undermine the objectives of the proposed electoral reforms.
The party made the warning in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Mr Sonny Adenuga, in response to ongoing discussions on electoral amendments before the National Assembly.
According to the BOOT Party, while electoral reforms and the use of technology are necessary to strengthen democracy, such measures must be carefully implemented, transparently tested and supported by resilient and secure infrastructure.
The party expressed concern over two major proposals: moving general elections to November and making electronic transmission of results via the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) a legal requirement rather than an operational guideline.
It argued that November elections pose significant risks, especially for flood-prone southern and riverine states such as Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, parts of Ondo and Lagos, where heavy rains and flooding often persist into October and November.
According to the party, flooding could disrupt transportation, isolate communities, delay the delivery of election materials, damage BVAS devices and reduce voter turnout, leading to regional disenfranchisement.
The BOOT Party also faulted provisions on early voting in the proposed bill, noting that they apply only to security personnel, INEC staff and essential workers, while excluding the general electorate. It warned that this could suppress voter participation without offering alternative voting options.
On BVAS, the party cautioned against making electronic transmission of results a legal mandate, citing challenges recorded during the 2023 general elections, including network outages, device failures, delayed uploads and public distrust.
It argued that BVAS depends on mobile network infrastructure not owned or controlled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that legalising electronic transmission without binding obligations on telecom operators could result in partial transmission, network-based disenfranchisement and legal disputes over missing or delayed results.
The party called for a safer election date, clear and enforceable obligations for infrastructure providers, transparent testing of election technologies and realistic timelines to build public confidence in the electoral process.
According to the BOOT Party, democracy is strengthened not by speed but by reliability, fairness and public trust.
