The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again countered the national assembly’s stance on electronic transmission of the election results.
Recall that the national assembly blocked the electronic transmission of election results in the electoral act amendment bill, adding a clause that gives the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) power to certify national coverage, followed by an approval by the national assembly before INEC can transmit results electronically.
However reacting to this in an interview on African Independent Television (AIT) on Friday, July 23, Nick Dazang, INEC’s director of publicity and voter education said NCC’s claim of the country having only 50% network coverage is false as all network providers in Nigeria assured the commission of 100 per cent coverage for electronic transmission of results.
He said “In January 2018, INEC approached NCC that it wants a technological-driven commission and both have been working closely to deliver free, fair and credible elections in our country for the benefit of our citizens. They are also aware that two network providers, MTN and Airtel have assisted JAMB to conduct their examinations across Nigeria. So, INEC is still wondering why NCC has suddenly made a U-turn that there is not enough network coverage in every part of Nigeria. I am convinced that if INEC was given the chance to appear before the national assembly alongside NCC, the commission would have told the distinguished senators and honourable members that all the network providers in Nigeria have assured INEC that network coverage is 100 per cent across the country. There is no website that is not prone to attack by hackers even in the most advanced nations but Nigerians should rest assured that INEC has what it takes to fight off hackers and the commission is well prepared to safeguard its websites against hackers. I also want NASS members to think like statesmen. They should think about the future, not about the next election. Let us always look at the bigger picture. It pains INEC that beneficiaries of transparent elections are in the forefront of working to weaken the commission by asking INEC to share its powers with other agencies or take permission from another agency before performing its statutory functions guaranteed by the constitution of Nigeria.”