₦airaland Forum

The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission of election results at polling units, describing the decision as a major setback to Nigeria’s democratic progress and electoral integrity.

PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong on Wednesday said the move undermines public confidence in the electoral process and ignores widespread calls by Nigerians for greater transparency and credibility in elections.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Senate declined a proposed amendment to Clause 70, Subsection 3 of the Electoral Amendment Bill that aimed to make electronic transmission of election results mandatory.

Explaining the Senate’s stance, Senate President Godswill Akpabio noted that the chamber did not outrightly reject the proposal but rather chose to maintain the current provision in the Electoral Act, which provides that “the presiding officer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot, in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”



Reacting, the PDP condemned the decision as shameful and regrettable, saying it shows the National Assembly’s lack of commitment to strengthening electoral integrity and deepening democracy.

PDP stated, “Today, after an intentional and protracted delay, the Senate, while passing the amendment to the Electoral Act, rejected the electronic transmission of results at the polling units. This rejection is most shameful and unfortunate, attracting condemnation from all democratic-minded persons.


“We charge our lawmakers to remember that they are delegates of power invested in them by the voters in their various constituencies and must endeavour to mirror their desires and wishes at all times. It is common knowledge that the majority of Nigerians across the 109 Senatorial Districts desire electoral sanctity, which is better guaranteed through the electronic transmission of votes from the polling units.


“We are all witnesses to the widespread practice of altering results before they get 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.”

PDP called on the National Assembly to urgently review its position and move to approve the amendment mandating the electronic transmission of election results.

It continued, “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 on 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 apathy will be worse than in the last general election, which is greatly unhelpful to democracy.”

https://punchng.com/senate-decision-on-e-results-transmission-a-setback-says-pdp/

Opposition no get teeth.

ogododo:
Opposition no get teeth.

Opposition should start mobilizing Nigerians to pocket NASS, that is what APC woukd have done. Cause Kasala everywhere and those bunch of thieves will go and reverse themselves.

Are the Pdp senators amongnst those who rejected the e transmission of results?

So APC is scared......let them do a credible election and test how popular they are ..They know they didn't win 2023.....I can't stop laughing...

Jaylord12:
So APC is scared......let them do a credible election and test how popular they are ..They know they didn't win 2023.....I can't stop laughing...

How did Pdp, LP, ADC and other opposition senators vote in regards to the rejection of the bill

I don tired for Nigeria matter, we hate progress as a nation.

PDP is reaping the evil they sowed, they taught APC all the evil they are doing, unfortunately, APC is a good student of evil and has taken it higher . PDP had sixteen years to out everything right but didn't😭, they are suffering it now alongside everybody😭

ogododo:
The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission of election results at polling units, describing the decision as a major setback to Nigeria’s democratic progress and electoral integrity.

PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong on Wednesday said the move undermines public confidence in the electoral process and ignores widespread calls by Nigerians for greater transparency and credibility in elections.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Senate declined a proposed amendment to Clause 70, Subsection 3 of the Electoral Amendment Bill that aimed to make electronic transmission of election results mandatory.

Explaining the Senate’s stance, Senate President Godswill Akpabio noted that the chamber did not outrightly reject the proposal but rather chose to maintain the current provision in the Electoral Act, which provides that “the presiding officer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot, in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”



Reacting, the PDP condemned the decision as shameful and regrettable, saying it shows the National Assembly’s lack of commitment to strengthening electoral integrity and deepening democracy.

PDP stated, “Today, after an intentional and protracted delay, the Senate, while passing the amendment to the Electoral Act, rejected the electronic transmission of results at the polling units. This rejection is most shameful and unfortunate, attracting condemnation from all democratic-minded persons.


“We charge our lawmakers to remember that they are delegates of power invested in them by the voters in their various constituencies and must endeavour to mirror their desires and wishes at all times. It is common knowledge that the majority of Nigerians across the 109 Senatorial Districts desire electoral sanctity, which is better guaranteed through the electronic transmission of votes from the polling units.


“We are all witnesses to the widespread practice of altering results before they get 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.”

PDP called on the National Assembly to urgently review its position and move to approve the amendment mandating the electronic transmission of election results.

It continued, “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 on 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 apathy will be worse than in the last general election, which is greatly unhelpful to democracy.”

https://punchng.com/senate-decision-on-e-results-transmission-a-setback-says-pdp/

From information available, I think the Senate didn't remove electronic transmission of election results at polling centers as an option for INEC in the Electoral Act.

The Senate simply left it as an option subject to INEC but refused to indicate "electronic transmission of election results" as mandatory.

When you make it mandatory, it is no longer optional - that would be the law.

However, it would be stupid not to think about technological glitches, cyber attacks and sabotage, cyber hacking, information system failure, location challenges with IT infrastructure and other possible challenges. In view of these, there must be options.

Hence, I agree with the Senate on the decision not to make "electronic transmission of election results at polling centers" mandatory.

Wallade:
From information available, I think the Senate didn't remove electronic transmission of election results at polling centers as an option for INEC in the Electoral Act.

The Senate simply left it as an option subject to INEC but refused to indicate "electronic transmission of election results" as mandatory.

When you make it mandatory, it is no longer optional - that would be the law.

However, it would be stupid not to think about technological glitches, cyber attacks and sabotage, cyber hacking, information system failure, location challenges with IT infrastructure and other possible challenges. In view of these, there must be options.

Hence, I agree with the Senate on the decision not to make "electronic transmission of election results at polling centers" mandatory.

Funny how “technological glitches” suddenly become a deal-breaker only when transparency is involved.

If electronic transmission is optional, then manipulation is guaranteed. Options are exactly where rigging hides.

And let’s not pretend Nigeria is too poor or too backward for tech, especially when Tinubu’s government approved about N1 trillion for INEC. You don’t allocate that kind of money for calculators and carbon paper.

If the concern was genuinely glitches and hacking, the solution is better systems and safeguards, not deliberately keeping elections analog.

Democracy isn’t protected by loopholes, it’s protected by transparency.

Ofunaofu:
Funny how “technological glitches” suddenly become a deal-breaker only when transparency is involved.

If electronic transmission is optional, then manipulation is guaranteed. Options are exactly where rigging hides.

And let’s not pretend Nigeria is too poor or too backward for tech, especially when Tinubu’s government approved about N1 trillion for INEC. You don’t allocate that kind of money for calculators and carbon paper.

If the concern was genuinely glitches and hacking, the solution is better systems and safeguards, not deliberately keeping elections analog.

Democracy isn’t protected by loopholes, it’s protected by transparency.

The Senate has taken a decision, we can't change it. We can only complain, it is done and I am comfortable with it