The Former National Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council,IPAC, Chief Peter Ameh has slammed the Senate over the rejection of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results.
Ameh described the Upper chamber’s position on Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill as a sham and a setback to Electoral integrity.
He said “The recent revision by the Nigerian Senate to Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which now permits the electronic transmission of election results from each polling unit only “provided the system does not fail,” represents nothing more than cosmetic tinkering with the existing law.”
Amen who is the National Secretary of Coalition of United Political Parties,CUPP, argued that “There is no meaningful difference between this so-called “revised” clause and the previous ambiguous provision.”
He stated” The Senate has merely introduced a conditional escape hatch that guarantees continued confusion, manipulation, and distrust in our electoral process.”
He pointed out “By tying electronic transmission to the unreliable caveat of system non-failure, the Senate has deliberately created a massive lacuna that can—and will—be exploited by those who wield state authority,
particularly the ruling APC.”
Ameh noted “This “Wayo twist” allows for manual interference at collation centres whenever it suits those in power, under the pretext of hence technical glitches 2027—a familiar excuse that has plagued our elections for years.”
He noted” The more the law appears to change, the more it remains the same: six and half a dozen, as the saying goes.”
Ameh argued “This amendment does not reflect the overwhelming wishes of Nigerians for mandatory, real-time electronic transmission of results to the IREV portal without conditions or loopholes.”
He added” Instead, it betrays public trust, preserves vulnerabilities to result alteration, and undermines the credibility of future elections, including those in 2027.”
The former presidential candidate regretted that “The Senate has once again demonstrated a blatant disregard for the aspirations of the Nigerian people for transparent, free, and fair elections.”
He called on all patriotic Nigerians, civil society organizations, the media, and international observers to reject this half-hearted reform and demand genuine electoral justice,stressing “Our votes must count, and our democracy must not be held hostage by self-serving political Senators.”