PRESIDENT of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has explained the position of the Senate on the electronic transmission of election results.
Speaking with journalists on Sunday at the weekend in Yobe North Senatorial District, Lawan explained that they voted the way they did in defence of about half of the Nigerian voters whose votes may not be counted with immediate deployment or application of electronic transmission of election results.
Recall that the Senate last week Thursday, while considering the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill, was of the opinion that the Commission(INEC) may consider the electronic transmission of results, provided the national coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by the National Communications Commission (NCC) and approved by the National Assembly.
Commenting on the Bill, Lawan expressed gratitude that they have been able to pass the amendment even though some people are complaining.
He also said that when the majority of Senators voted against immediate application or deployment of electronic transmission of results from the polling units, to the ward, to the local government, states and federal, they didn’t say they do not believe in electronic transmission (of election results).
Instead, he said that they believe that at one point, the country’s electoral process must deploy electronic transmission so that it eases and enhances the electoral process and gives it more credibility and integrity.
However, he said no matter what anyone says, one cannot have about 50 percent of Nigerian voters not participating or not getting their votes counted in elections on the grounds that they have to start the electronic transmission.
He also said that they had to look out for those that will vote but their results or their votes would not be electronically transmitted as it would lead to disenfranchising Nigerians and they are not going to support that act because essentially, they are supposed to be fair to every part of Nigeria and when they voted, every part of Nigeria voted for and against(the amendment).
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