…Chamber being clever by half -PDP

From  Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) has said that the Senate’s latest position on the transmission of election results is not different from its earlier position, which was rejected by Nigerians.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, yesterday night, said the agitation for electronic transmission of election is aimed at preventing alteration of election results.

The Senate, last week, rejected electronic transmission of election results in real time, in the ongoing review of the electoral act. However, the decision generated public outcry with pro-democracy groups and notable politicians staging protests at the entrance of the National Assembly yesterday and on Monday.

However, the Senate, yesterday, rescinded its earlier decision and resolved that while election results should be transmitted electronically, manual transmission can also be used where technology fails.

However, the PDP stated it was inconceivable that the same technology used to undertake voter accreditation would not be reliable for the transmission of election results from the same exercise. “We have taken note of the outcome of the Senate’s reconsideration of its earlier position on the real-time electronic transmission of election results, wherein an addendum was introduced to permit manual transmission where technology is said to fail.

“We hold the firm view that this addendum is nothing more than a backdoor attempt to achieve the same objective as the earlier outright rejection, while pretending to align with the wishes of the Nigerian people.

“Manual transmission is already sufficiently provided for under the Electoral Act. The current agitation for electronic transmission is aimed at introducing a second-layer authentication mechanism that prevents the alteration of results en route to collation centres; a malpractice that has historically been the bane of Nigeria’s electoral process.

“Furthermore, it is inconceivable that the same BVAS technology which successfully undertakes accreditation throughout an election would suddenly become unreliable for the transmission of results and accreditation data arising from that same exercise,” the opposition party stated. The PDP added that, “this caveat is a clear indication of the humongous fear being harboured by Senators opposed to electronic transmission, particularly Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom we reasonably suspect remains haunted by the ghost of his 2019 election loss, occasioned by the deployment of technology to curb over voting.

“They must be reminded that Nigeria is bigger than their narrow personal and political interests. We, therefore, urge members of the Conference Committee to adopt the version of the bill passed by the House of Representatives as the harmonised position, if indeed they are committed to delivering credible elections in 2027.

“They must rise above the instincts of politicians fixated on the next election and instead focus on the sustenance of democracy and the protection of future generations. Should this democracy fail, the names of Akpabio and all senators who voted against electronic transmission will, undoubtedly, occupy a conspicuous chapter in the book of infamy. “We also call on Nigerians to remain resolute in their demand for the real-time electronic transmission of election results. This is no time for excuses. This hard-won democracy is far too valuable to be left in the hands of politicians alone.”