Nigerian Senate's Approval of Electronic Transmission (E-transmission) of Election Results
Why They did not want to, why they accept it and why this is good for Nigeria's Development
On July 15, 2021, Nigerian Senators voted against the Electronic Transmission of Election Results. The matter generated a lot of interests. Many people including me condemned the act. While many people who condemned it know why they did and how the decision of the Senate will impair (negatively affect) politics and governance in Nigeria, many people don’t understand why the issue led to so much condemnations.
First, what is electronic or e-transmission of election results?
The word ‘electronic’ means (of a device) having or using many small parts, such as microchips, that control and direct a small electric current or something concerned with electronic equipment.
‘To transmit’ something from somewhere/somebody to somewhere is to send an electronic signal, radio or tv broadcast, etc or to pass something from one person to another.
So, electronic transmission of election results means sending or passing election results by electronic means. The election results were collated manually before it was usually released.
Why The National Assembly Rejected E-Transmission of Election Results
When the motion about the matter was raised during house plenary (of a meeting to be attended by all participants at a Conference or Assembly), many Senators rejected it.
Why They Voted Against It
While Nigeria has a few, decent Politicians who genuinely or sincerely care about the People, majority of them are criminals driven by the need to enrich themselves regardless of whether people suffer or not.
You remember how they kept items meant to be given to people to ease their suffering during Covid19 lockdown in various warehouses while people were seriously starving until some smart Nigerians discovered where these greedy lot kept those things? That’s the kind of politicians many of them are.
The main reason why they voted against e-transmission of electronic results are;
They won’t be able to rig election results or do other related manipulations.
Why They Accept It
Fear of attack
fear of being recalled: The 1999 Constitution (As Amended) makes provision for the recall of a lawmaker.
To ‘recall’ is to officially order someone to to return to a place. It is done if a lawmaker/government official misbehave or perform poorly. People in his/her constituency (an area whose voters elect a representative to a legislative body) can organize an election in which they can indicate whether they want a lawmaker to remain in office or not. It’s a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ exercise.
If there are many people who voted ‘no’, the lawmaker in question is a goner (he/she will have to leave office), if the majority of voters say ‘Yes’, he/she will remain in office.
The recall of Governor Gavin Newsom of California, U.S. on September 14, 2021 is an example. Fortunately, he won.
Increasing Public Condemnation by way of Letters to Newspaper Houses, Commentaries on Tv and Radio and others.
Well done Nigerians! We won!
What This Means For Nigeria’s Development
As a matter of fact, this is one of the good Things that has happened since Mr. Buhari became President.
Here are some of the reasons why e-transmission of results is good.
No more ballot snatching and stuffing.
No more hijacking of election results that are being taken to a place for counting.
No more killing of Security Officers who escort those who carry election results.
Well, this does not mean that election results are completely free from manipulation. Many Nigerian Politicians are some of the crookedest (dishonest) people in the world. Believe you me, they will still find a way to manoeuvre or manipulate things.
The good thing is the amount of manipulation has now been greatly reduced.
Comments are welcome.