ELECTORAL REFORM:WHY LAWMAKERS VOTED AGAINST ELECTRONIC TRANSFER OF RESULTS – Gbajabiamila

  ELECTORAL REFORM:WHY LAWMAKERS VOTED AGAINST ELECTRONIC TRANSFER OF RESULTS – Gbajabiamila

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has revealed that lawmakers voted against the electronic transfer of results to prevent the electoral disenfranchisement of their constituents.

The Speaker  disclosed  this on Tuesday during an interview with Channels TV, citing that INEC and the NCC should work together towards a plan to make electronic transfer of results feasible.

“INEC is empowered by our laws to conduct elections and NCC has a mandate in terms of technology and capacity.

“They need to work together for us to have credible elections.

“Those who voted against electronic transfer did so for a reason, not personal, they believe that their constituents would be disenfranchised. The fact that I am not disenfranchised does not mean the other person is not,

He added that lawmakers who voted for it believed that their constituents would not be disenfranchised.

“You have a discord based on constituents capacity. That’s the way we should look at it. Some also believe the potential of hacking. I don’t want to paint those who voted for this as bad people,” he said.

The Speaker urged that Nigerians should wait and see what INEC and NCC come up with, citing that the House of Reps voted to allow INEC the discretion to work as they choose to.

Report gathered last week that The Senate insisted that INEC may only electronically transmit election results if the Nigerian Communications Commission endorses the mode of electronic transfer as safe and secure.

This came after a  Senate vote  on the electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Amendment Bill, which the Senate voted against, with all but one APC Senators voting against it, leading to the Senate ordering INEC to get NCC’s approval for electronic transfer where feasible.