Why Senate is scared of e-transmission of election results – Yiaga Africa boss, Itodo
Yiaga Africa’s Executive Director Discusses Political Resistance to E-Transmission of Election Results
In an interview on Channels Television’s “Sunday Politics,” Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, addressed the concerns of the political class regarding the electronic transmission of election results.
Itodo indicated that this apprehension stems from the significant power that electronic transmission affords in ensuring electoral transparency. He stated, “What the political class seems to be scared of is the power that electronic transmission of results has.”
Recently, the Senate declined to approve a proposal amending Clause 60, subsection 3 of the Electoral Amendment Bill, which aimed to make electronic transmission mandatory.
Itodo pointed out that while no system is entirely immune to breaches, implementing robust mechanisms can mitigate vulnerabilities and prevent attacks on the process. “What you do about those vulnerabilities is institute mechanisms that limit the extent of vulnerability,” he said.
He further explained that electronic transmission enhances not only the transparency of the electoral process but also acts as a deterrent against manipulation. According to Itodo, the collation phase is often the weakest link in results management, where irregularities can occur.
By introducing electronic transmission, specifically through the INEC Result Viewing Portal (iReV), Itodo noted that results are uploaded at polling units after voting. This immediate dissemination of results to the public increases accessibility and visibility prior to the results reaching the collation center.
“It enhances accessibility, so that when it goes to the collation center, everyone already sees the result,” he concluded.
