Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.
National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Chris Isiguzo, has appealed to the National Assembly for a rethink so as to further review the electoral act, especially as it affects the electronic transmission of election results.
Chris Isiguzo who made the passionate appeal in his contribution to the theme tagged ” Electoral Act and the future of Nigeria’ s democracy’ at the grand finale of Kogi state NUJ press week over the weekend in Lokoja, lamented that the rejection of the electronic transmission of election results depicts Nigeria as a nation lagging behind in modern technology.
While commending the 9th Assembly for their immense efforts in finally resolving the controversial electoral act, however picked hole on the crucial issue of transmission of results which he said was unjustly rejected by the distinguished and honourable lawmakers.
The NUJ President wondered how adoption of electronic transmission of results could have been a problem when all members of the legislature, executive and all Nigerians now transact businesses, examinations and banking electronically without hitches.
“Salaries and allowances of every public,civil servants and private workers are paid electronically and every thing globally are now done through the same way. Why is it that of all the processes only the election results is consigned to the status quo?” He asked.
According to the NUJ President, the decision needs to be reversed to give the nation its befitting status of a civilised country among others globally.
In the same vein, Dr. John Alabi, Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Kogi state University Ayingba, who was the guest lecturer at the occasion, said while the 2021 electoral act is a considerable improvement on that of 2010, was however regarded by majority of Nigerians as a “political coup” by the ruling class facilitated by the National Assembly, which is capable of dragging the whole process of the electoral reform backward.
Dr. Alabi noted that the joint committee report of the National Assembly originally allows for the electronic voting, but prohibit electronic transmission of election results, which he agreed was a key recommendation for the digitalisation of the electoral process.
Kogi NUJ Press Week: Sen. Gaya, Others To Speak On Electoral Act And Of Nigerian Democracy.
The lecturer stated that a major determinant of democracy is the electoral process that provides electorate the institutional frame work for choosing their representatives through a competitive free and fair election.
The Chairman Senate Committee on INEC who was expected to give a key note address on the theme was absent .
