Electronic means of transferring election results bill in the Nigerian electoral Act Amendment
Written By Oluwatobi Oladipupo (Superlight)
The world has become a global village with the use of the Internet. Hunger to be at par with developed countries drives developing and underdeveloped ones in terms of the use of the Internet which makes work faster and easier.
It seems The Internet has gotten to another level in Nigeria as the electronic means of transmitting election results has been found in the electoral Act Amendment 2021.
Electronic transmission of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Electoral Bill, 2021 has been different things to different people, while some see it as a good development, some see it as another means of disrupting electioneering processes.
Many stakeholders had canvassed electronic transmission of election results during the public hearing on the bill.
Stakeholders are of the view that that the step would go a long way in curbing rigging and manipulation of electoral outcomes. However, Section 50 (2) of the Electoral Act Bill makes no provision for INEC to transmit the results of any election electronically.
According to some people, the clause was smuggled into the Bill as it was never part of the provisions agreed upon between the stakeholders and the Senate Committee on INEC during their various engagements.
Personalities, groups, caucuses have been throwing weight behind it noting that the new development will put an end to rigging, ballot snatching, and changing of figures during elections.
Although electronic transmission of results might look right for our dear nation, but how secure will the sites be, will professional hackers not tamper with the system?
How accessible will it be to people for transparency’s sake?
Will people ever trust the process?
How commendable it be if bad network don’t frustrate the process?
How much will INEC spend to make a standard Internet and networking facility to connect all local governments together?
All these salient questions must be raised and settled before we proceed in the process of adopting it or not.
Written by Oluwatobi Oladipupo (Superlight)
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