Electronic transmission of results will bring credible polls, eradicates election banditry – VON DG

By Ridwan AREMU

The Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, has commended the National Assembly and other stakeholders for the final process leading to the insertion of electronic transmission of election results in the country’s electoral law.

Okechukwu, who is a foundation member of the All Progressive Congress, said this when he spoke with journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, expressing optimism that electronic transmission of results would banish electoral banditry at the collation centres and hence, extend Nigeria’s democratic frontiers.

The Senate on Tuesday bowed to pressure from the generality of Nigerians and rescinded its earlier decision against Electronic Transmission of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Welcoming the decision of the Senate, Okechukwu said, “The insertion of Electronic Transmission of results in our electoral lexicon laws is a fundamental tonic to banish Election Collation Bandits and hence, the extension of our democratic frontiers.

“This will lead to one man one vote, and renew our faith in elections, as thuggery and ballot snatching will fade away.”

Asked why he hailed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), who has yet to endorse the Electoral Bill awaiting his assent, Okechukwu quipped, “I’m relying on the cordial bicameral relationship which Senate President Ahmed Lawan and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila-led National Assembly have with the Buhari-led Executive, which some of you mistakenly tagged ‘Rubber Stamp Legislature’.

“We are going to harvest the fruit of this cordial bicameral relationship now. That’s why I thanked Mr. President along the same line with the legislators, and civil society organisations. I don’t have fears he will sign the bill into law.”

He described the cordial relationship existing between the Executive and Legislature as “enough assurance” that the President would endorse the electronic transmission of election results into law.