Utomi: Nigerians may take over country if INEC bars election tech
Prof Pat Utomi, a member of the Movement for Credible Elections, warned on Arise News that if INEC continues to bar voters from bringing phones, bodycams or other devices to polling units to stream live updates, Nigerians may have no choice but to take over their country.\n\nSpeaking on Tuesday, Utomi called such restrictions criminal and insisted on body cameras and live streams from every polling booth, noting that in the UK and US election results come from media monitoring, not the electoral commission chair.\n\nHe said the 2027 presidential election already features incumbent President Bola Tinubu (APC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (ADC) and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi (NDC) as contenders. Utomi stressed that transparent elections are vital for public trust; without them citizens may resort to extraconstitutional action, threatening national stability. He also criticized politicians who spend public money to fund campaigns, calling it thievery and saying he would prosecute it internationally.\n\nUtomi urged Nigerians to share resources to monitor polls, ensure their votes count and not be deterred by the 300,000‑strong police force. He warned that telling people not to bring transparency tools amounts to criminality and that the election should be technologised with bodycams and live streams from every booth. Readers should demand INEC allow recording devices, support voter education efforts and stay informed about the 2027 candidates and their funding sources.