My people, e don happen again! The major opposition parties wey dey Nigeria don raise their voices gidigba over wetin the Senate just do. Dem don slam the Senate for dem recent vote wey no gree accept mandatory electronic transmission of results for our elections. Dem call am retrogressive act wey fit scatter our democracy.
For one statement wey dem drop on Thursday through the social media handle of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and join hands with African Democratic Congress, ADC, and New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, dem express serious concern. Dem say the APC-led Senate wan protect loopholes wey go allow dem carry out electoral manipulation. E be like say dem no wan free and fair election anymore!
Dem spokespersons wey talk for this matter include Ini Ememobong for PDP, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi for ADC, and Bamofin Ladipo Johnson for NNPP. E no dey funny when dem dey question why APC fit use technology for their own e-registration, but when e come to transmission of results, dem dey fear make dem no use am.
According to dem, this action go set our democracy back by like many decades. Dem don notice how courts don point out some issues wey dey for the Electoral Act wey govern our 2023 elections. Wetin make am sharp be say the law no talk say electronic transmission na must-do, so na there the wahala dey for ground.
They highlight say recent Supreme Court rulings don expose this big gap wey dey. The court don talk say because dem use the word ‘prescribed’ instead of ‘mandated’, INEC fit choose how dem go transmit results. This one just mean say if dem no upload results real-time, e no go invalidate the election. Na why opposition dey push say make dem delete that ‘discretionary’ language to ensure say electronic transmission go dey compulsory.
Now, all eyes dey on the National Assembly Conference Committee wey suppose harmonize the two versions wey the Senate and House of Representatives don pass. Unlike the Senate wey don show backside, the House don yan say dem dey support progressive electronic reforms big time!
Dem don urge committee members to focus on the next generation and not just next election. Dem dey beg dem make dem no behave like regular politicians wey dey fear election votes, but as true statesmen wey go think about wetin go better for the people.
The statement finish with one serious warning say if dem no act right for the Nigerian people, e go bring negative consequences be the anti-democratic laws wey dem wan fit down our throat. Chai! Nigeria, make we shine our eyes!
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