–Describes it as shameful, counter predictive
The Nigerian Senate’s rejection of the electronic transmission of election results from the polling units has elicited mass condemnation from Nigerians, including the People’s Democratic Party PDP, who described the development as a shameful and unfortunate decision that is harmful to democracy.
The main opposition party, in a press statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary Comrade Ini Ememobong expressed dismay that the lawmakers finally did the unthinkable after an international and protracted delay.
The Party wondered why the lawmakers who are executing the mandate of their constituents in trust would not accommodate or look in line with the desire of Nigerians for electoral sanctity that is better ensured and guaranteed by the electronic transmission of votes from polling Units. We are all witnesses to the widespread practice of altering results before it gets to the collation centre or at the collation centre.
This electronic transmission would have brought an end to this ignoble practice that has been deployed by politicians to win elections against the wishes of the people expressed through the ballot.
This rejection is a clear indication that the National Assembly is not willing or ready to legislate for electoral sanctity and democratic consolidation. This is indeed a sad day for electoral democracy. We hereby call the National Assembly to immediately reconsider its stand on this matter and take steps to pass the amendment approving the electronic transmission of results.
This is the minimum amendment. That can increase faith in the electoral process, without which the apathy will be worse than the last general election, which is greatly unhelpful to democracy.
