The Because Of Our Tomorrow (BOOT) Party has raised concerns over proposed electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that moving elections to November could severely disrupt the process and compromise credibility.

In a statement signed by National Chairman Sonny Adenuga, the party noted that while electoral reforms and technology can strengthen democracy, they must be carefully planned, transparently tested, and supported by resilient infrastructure.

“The two main proposals before the National Assembly—shifting elections to November and making electronic transmission of results via BVAS a legal mandate—carry significant risks if implemented without addressing technical and operational gaps,” the statement said.

BOOT highlighted the seasonal challenges in southern and riverine states such as Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, and Lagos, where flooding often extends into November. The party warned that adverse weather could prevent polling materials and BVAS devices from reaching polling units, isolate communities, and depress voter turnout.

The party also criticized the bill’s proposed early voting provisions, which only cover security personnel, INEC staff, and essential workers, leaving the general electorate without a compensatory mechanism.

Regarding BVAS, BOOT stressed that previous deployments in 2023 exposed systemic vulnerabilities, including device failures, network outages, delayed uploads, and public distrust. Making BVAS a legal requirement without ensuring infrastructure reliability, the party argued, risks disenfranchisement, transmission errors, and a repeat of past credibility challenges.

BOOT recommended a safer election date, enforceable infrastructure obligations for network providers, thorough testing, realistic timelines, and a trustworthy system. “Democracy is not strengthened by speed; it is strengthened by reliability, fairness, and public confidence,” the statement concluded.