Dare Babalola
Major opposition parties in Nigeria have condemned the Senate’s rejection of a proposal to make mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results at polling units, describing the move as a setback for democracy.
In a joint press statement signed by Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Bamofin Ladipo Johnson, National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the parties expressed disappointment with the Senate’s decision, saying it has “set Nigeria’s democracy back by many decades”.
They said, “We are at a loss as to why a party that is currently deploying technology to run an e-registration of their members across the country is averse to using technology to transmit results.
“We therefore harbour no doubts about the intention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is in firm control of the two chambers of the National Assembly. They know Nigerians are fed up with them. They are aware of the rejection that awaits them at the forthcoming polls. A free and fair election has therefore become a threat to them.”
The opposition parties urged the conference committee to adopt the position of the House of Representatives on mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results, saying it is crucial for transparency, trust, and belief in the electoral process.
“This immediately signalled a lacuna that needed to be urgently fixed to ensure that future elections do not suffer the same fate,” the statement added.
It added, “However, beyond providing a basis for judicial action in future, the electronic transmission will increase transparency, trust and belief in the electoral process, which in turn will deepen and consolidate democracy in our country.”
