National Assembly's disapproval of electronic transmission of electoral results and the albatross of promoting political stability and Accountability

By Momoh, Emmanuel Omeiza

The incessant pleas, agitations and requests for elections that are void of incongruence and inconsistency in Nigeria may seem to be a moonlight dream especially as the drumbeats of the 2023 general elections continue to sound on a daily basis. This no thanks to the refusal of thenation's legislative chambers to approve the bill seeking to enforce the electronic transmission of electoral results.

The deliberate attempt by some members of the legislature to disapprove the bill could be rightly adjudged as a way of ensuring that the basic tenets of democracy which the country has laid claim to on a continual basis, is washed off the national surface. This giving way to anarchy and political disharmony.

It is therefore not a coincidence that the nation's electoral umpire (INEC) has been faced with the challenge of collating and transmitting electoral results using the manual method which has always proved to be cumbersome and difficult.

One hem begins to wonder the rationale for the decision which to many has caused more harm than good especially in the current era where technology and its adjunct components has paved the way towards ensuring that day to day process of carrying out human and industrial operations are fast tracked towards promoting effectiveness and efficiency.

The irregularities which continue to trail our elections and the various processes associated with it, are real pointers to the fact that the issue of promoting political transparency and electoral integrity will not see the light of the day.

From the foregoing, it will not be an hasty assumption or assertion to conclude that Nigerian leaders are the with their actions prove to be the obstacle towards achieving several strides and successes.

Do we blame though? No. After all, several of them are results of utilising faulty means and strategies of clinching enviable positions. No doubt, signing the bill for the electoral transmission of electoral results will be the mountain standing in their way towards achieving theirdesires of ruling.

Based on reliable statistics obtained from the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, about 52 senators at the sitting expressed their disgust at the calls for electronic transmission of results. Surprisingly, all the 52 senators are operating on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress. This without ado, proves the sinister motive which the party has incessantly utilised.

A man in his or her positive frame of mind would imagined that there will be a break from utilising old methods in achieving political process. But it is as though, there was a continuous movement in a vicious cycle.

As though, Nigerians were ignorant and naive, the committee that came up with the recommendation and quickly shifted from the new normal as invited the Nigerian Communications Commission to determine if theIndependent National Electoral Commission could utilise the e-method of transmitting results. What correlation then exists between the powers and functions of the two bodies and what was the concord with respect to conducting free and fair elections?

Well, there is no use making irrelevant gyrations or postulations. However, we cannot continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results. Ourrefusal to adopt the usage of modern technology especially in political matters such as election may be the albatross in our wheels of progress.

What then will be end result of we fail to understand this fact?

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