Electrical Act: What Senate did today was treachery, 419 – Kenneth Okonkwo
Senate Approves Dual Method for Election Results Transmission Amid Controversy
Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has criticized the Senate for its recent decision to permit both manual and electronic transmission of election results.
During an emergency session on Tuesday, the Senate amended Section 60 of the Electoral Act, enabling presiding officers at polling units to electronically send election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Results Viewing Portal (IREV). The legislation also stipulates that manual transmission may be used in areas lacking mobile network coverage.
This decision follows public backlash against the Senate’s previous rejection of electronic transmission.
In an interview with Channels TV, Okonkwo described the Senate’s actions as deceptive, labeling the outcome of the emergency plenary as a “419” scheme. He expressed concerns over the provision allowing manual transmission in cases of technical difficulties.
“What we have been advocating for is unconditional transmission of results from polling units,” Okonkwo stated. “We do not recognize any form of electronic collation of results.”
