Sokoto State Governor, Mr Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has strongly pleaded with members of the National Assembly to endorse electronic transmission of votes in order to guarantee transparent, free and fair election, insisting that, “it is in the national interest to bequeath to Nigeria an Electoral Act that will contribute to free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria irrespective of party platform.”

His appeal is coming against the move by some members of the National Assembly mostly from the north not to back electronic transmission of votes. Their position is hinged on the lack of internet access in many parts of their region which they argue will negate the use of electronic transmission of votes by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But in a letter titled, “ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF VOTES: AN APPEAL TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS TO DO THE RIGHT THING,” Tambuwal, also a former Speaker, House of Representatives, observed that, “It is a credible, free, and fair election that will ensure that the voters decide any electoral contest.”

Alluding to the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, where the INEC experimented with the electronic transmission of results, he posited that it was a recipe for ensuring that the voters wishes are respected.

“The Edo and Ondo States elections where electronic transmission of votes cast from the unit level ensured that the voters wishes were respected are good examples. PDP won in Edo and APC won in Ondo as a result,” he said.

Tambuwal’s letter reads: “I am minded and constrained to add my voice in making this appeal to the sitting members of the National Assembly, not as the Vice Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, nor as Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, not even as the Governor of Sokoto State but as a Nigerian citizen and former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“We believe, that it is in the national interest to bequeath to Nigeria an Electoral Act that will contribute to free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria irrespective of party platform.

“We have seen many times where a person may be in the ruling party today and in the opposition party tomorrow. We have also experienced a situation where party leaders would want to frustrate the re-election of a sitting member, even in the same political Party.

“What guarantees the re-election of a member of the National Assembly or indeed any other contestant should be his performance and appeal not the dictates of any godfather either as Governor, President or Party leader or stakeholder.

“It is a credible, free, and fair election that will ensure that the voters decide any electoral contest. The Edo and Ondo States elections where electronic transmission of votes cast from the unit level ensured that the voters wishes were respected are good examples. PDP won in Edo and APC won in Ondo as a result.

“Some have argued that INTERNET penetration in all parts of Nigeria is not assured. This is exactly why the bill should give INEC the prerogative of introducing ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF VOTES in any election.

“In any case, INEC has demonstrated and assured that it has the technology to transmit votes electronically even WITHOUT THE INTERNET. INEC had also assured that with the new process and technology, any interested Nigerian could track or monitor the results of the election from his or her house.
“Once results of elections are announced from the collation centres, down to the wards, Local Governments and final collation centres, any person can monitor it without any human error”, INEC announced recently.

“The international community, INEC, the entire Civil Society, almost ALL the political parties are in support of ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF VOTES.

“One must distinguish ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION of votes from ELECTRONIC VOTING, which in my view is a little bit more problematic, though achievable.

“My intervention is not a partisan one. It must be seen as a contribution from someone who has had varied experiences as a legislator, a former Speaker, a sitting Governor and one who has been involved in leadership of political Parties.

“As you decide this question, please, be guided by the wishes of your constituents who should be ultimate arbiters in a democracy, “ the Sokoto State helmsman said.

However, Senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Sen. Lawal Gumau, on Friday, kicked against moves to amend the Electoral Act to give room for electronic transmission of results ahead of 2023 General Elections.

Gumau who stated this while speaking to newsmen in Abuja said Nigeria was not ripe for electronic transmission of results.

Gumau said: “I’m not in support of electronic transmission of result. We are not ready. It is best if we are equipped and ready to secure the website that nobody can be hacked.

“If we say for 2023, we are going to do transmit results electronically, is it possible? Everybody knows that it is only the person with the highest number of votes that will get it.

“So results should be announced at the Polling Units and Collation Centres where applicable.

“Let us not start what we cannot do,” he said.