The former Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has appeal to the National Assembly to consider doing the right thing on electronic transmission of votes.
Tambuwal who is also the Kaduna State Governor said this would enable free, fair and credible elections in the country.
Tambuwal who was the Speaker of the 7th National Assembly made the plea while addressing Journalists in Sokoto.
According to him, “since the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Civil Societies, International Communities and all the Political Parties are in support of electronic transmission of Votes, the National Assembly should allow the interest of Nigerians to prevail.”
He said; “I am minded and constrained to add my voice in making this appeal to the sitting members of the National Assembly, not as the Vice Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, nor as Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, not even as the Governor of Sokoto State, but as a Nigerian citizen and former Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“We believe, that it is in the national interest to bequeath to Nigeria an Electoral Act that will contribute to free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria irrespective of party platform.”
” It is a credible, free, and fair election that will ensure that the voters decide any electoral contest. The Edo and Ondo States elections where electronic transmission of votes cast from the unit level ensured that the voters wishes were respected were good examples. The PDP won in Edo and APC won in Ondo as a result,” Tambuwal said.
He however explained that the INEC had promised that with the new process and Technologies, any interested Nigerian can track or monitor results of election from home.
“Some have argued that Internet penetration in all parts of Nigeria is not assured. This is exactly why the bill should give INEC the prerogative of introducing Electronic Transmission of Votes in any election. In any case, INEC has demonstrated and assured that it has the technology to transmit votes electronically even without the internet.
“Once results of elections are announced from the collation centres, down to the wards, Local Governments and final collation centres, any person can monitor it without any human error,” INEC announced recently,” he explained.
The former Speaker added that his intervention was not a partisan one, but as a contribution from someone who has had varied experiences as a legislator, a former Speaker, a sitting Governor and one who has been involved in leadership of political Parties.
Lateefah Ibrahim
