You don hear wetin dey happen for National Assembly? Na former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, wey don join protesters wey dey demand say make electronic transmission of election results become law! E don loud am since Tuesday as dem dey demonstrate for fourth day. She no wan make dem play with the law wey fit change our democracy!
Oby talk say if Senate follow this ambiguous provision wey no clear, na so dem go fit manipulate the results e go make the whole voting wahala worse! She dey emphasize say every vote must count for this country, no be play, no be jive, serious matter!
As she yan for the protest, she carry past elections enter the gist, make we no forget how them fit cancel results wey carry true votes. “No more of that kain nonsense!” she declare. Na why she dey push for mandatory electronic transmission, wey go fit stop any dispute wey fit happen if dem no fit count results well!
She no stop there, Oby they vex say some politicians dey resist reforms wey go make our electoral system strong. “Dem no wan make the process dey transparent because dem wan collect our democracy,” she talk with fire! For her mouth, our governance wahala dey show say our electoral system dey weak. So, her point na say if we wan enjoy good governance, we must fix the way we dey handle elections.
Demonstrators waka carry placards dey shout outside National Assembly because security don block entrance! Na so dem dey protest for outside gates, dey demand say make lawmakers keep the ‘real-time’ provision without any manual way wey fit delay the process. E fit be hot if dem no listen, because people don tire for wahala!
Last week, Senate don even get emergency meeting to discuss the controversial Clause 60(3) of the Bill, wey make dem replace “real-time” with “transfer”. This one cause fire for the house! But dem still agree say make results go Independent National Electoral Commission, but manual collation go dey for backup. E no sweet for the protesters o!
Shout out to ActionAid Nigeria and the rest of the civic groups! Dem dey carry the matter for head no be small! Andrew Mamedu, wey be Country Director, say this matter dey non-negotiable. “We no wan any condition, just make electronic transmission mandatory!” Na wetin e dey shout!
Mamedu don remind people say other countries dey do the same. If India fit handle 980 million voters without wahala, why Nigeria no fit? Na why e add say citizens gatz ask their senators wetin dem dey do about this matter. This wahala no be joke!
As things dey hot, people dey wey don join the protest dey shout say dem go take this matter to court if lawmakers no harmonize both Senate and House versions of the electoral bill! Na serious matter! If dem no do the right thing, dem go face serious litigation!
Jake Epelle wey dey represent people wey get disability don talk say credible elections no fit happen without real-time transmission. “No real-time transmission means no credible election!” Na so e clear the air!
The protesters dey vow say dem no go back down until dem see wetin dem dey demand come to pass. As National Assembly dey waka on top this matter, everybody dey watch well as dem dey push to harmonize the versions of the amendment!
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