The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) senators for rejecting the electronic transmission of election results in the passed Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021.
During the bill reading, Thursday, some APC senators rejected a section of the bill that would have allowed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) transmit election results electronically to it data base using its own discretion and acting alone.
The Senate then rephrased the section following the rejection of the electronic transmission of results by the APC senators to ensure INEC seeks approval from the National Assembly and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) before going ahead to transmit results using electronic means.
This generated into heated argument and chaos as lawmakers argued for and against the controversial clause. The rowdiness lasted for over 15 minutes after which the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, called for an executive session.
The bill was, however, passed with 52 senators of the APC fold voting that NCC and the National Assembly should determine where and when electronic transmission of results should be used and subject to the approval of the National Assembly. Twenty-eight senators of the PDP fold voted for electronic transmission of results.
Following the landslide victory, the senate President, Ahmad Lawan, ruled in favour of the amendment of the section, making E-transmission of results tentative.
Reacting in a statement, the PDP, National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, described the act of the APC Senators as “disgraceful”
Ologbondiyan said the PDP and indeed majority of Nigerians were shocked over the decision of the Senate rejecting the demand by Nigerians across board for the electronic transmission of election results without conditionalities.
He, however, commended the PDP lawmakers for showing resilience and demanding the unconditional electronic transmission of results.
He alleged that the action of APC Senators was an “atrocious assault on the sensibilities of Nigerians, who looked up to the Senate for improvement in our electoral process in a manner that would engender free, fair and credible process”.
He said “it is outrageous that the APC-led Senate, in the bid to annex the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), sought to route a statutorily independent commission to the approval of the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) before conducting elections.”
“The decision of the APC Senators therefore amounts to a suspension of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which is a recipe for crisis that could derail our democracy and destabilize our nation.”
Ologbondiyan also described it as preparation for rigging of elections, which must be firmly resisted.
“Our party, standing with Nigerians, however, commends the PDP Senators as well as other democratically-minded Senators in the chamber for their resilience in voting for unconditional electronic transmission of results.
“This is in line with the wishes and aspiration of Nigerians for free, fair, clean and credible election.”
Meanwhile, on Friday, the Executive Commissioner of the NCC, Mr. Adeleke Adewolu who appeared before the House of Representatives raised concerns over the transmission of results electronically, stating that no system can guarantee a 100 percent shield from hacking.
The NCC boss also stated that elections results can only be transmitted by a 3G network, noting that 50 percent of the country has 3G coverage.
He, however, explained that for areas without such coverage, poll results can be recorded and thereafter uploaded in places where there is a network.
But Adeleke admitted that this cannot be compared with the real-time upload.
