I Didn’t Vote Against Electronic Transmission Of Election Results, Omo-Agege Claims

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has
claimed he never voted against the electronic transmission of
results but an amendment to the clause in the recently passed
Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

In a statement issued Saturday by his Special Adviser on
Legislative and Plenary matters, Prince Efe Duku, Omo-agege said
his decision was guided by the reality on ground given the fact
that according to data from the Nigerian Communication Commission,
e-transmission of results is only possible in less than 50 percent
of all electoral domains in the country.

According to the Deputy Senate President, while he supports
Electronic Voting (E-Voting) as contained in Clause 52(2) of the
Electoral Reform Bill, which has been duly passed by the Senate, he
only voted for an amendment to Clause 52(3) of the Bill (on
e-transmission) to guarantee secure e-rransmission of all election
results and uniform application of e-transmission everywhere in the
country, not just some parts of it.

While urging Nigerians to discountenance any mischievous
commentary or speculation to the contrary, the Senator added that
those grandstanding with mischief as their only weapons of offence
are only labouring in vain.

The statement read in part: “Their defeat was perfectly executed
by a majority of the Nigerian Senate. Not being democrats, they
believe they may still achieve their sinister agenda through
misinformation and outright falsehoods. That will not stand.

In simple terms, The Obarisi of Urhobo land voted to support an
amendment that ensures, for example, that INEC does not transmit
only election results in Urhobo electronically while other areas
may have their results transmitted otherwise and safely. For him,
all election results must be treated equally under a uniformly
applied standard.

“Indeed, as an erudite lawyer, i know that it is
unconstitutional for the National Assembly to enact an Electoral
Act that is inherently discriminatory in its design and intended
application. For him, to pass the test of constitutional validity,
the law must apply uniformly to all electoral domains in the
country, otherwise such a law could be easily struck down by a
court if taken for judicial reviews by those who may be negatively
impacted.

I know that Urhobo as Nigeria’s 5th largest ethnic nationality
does not countenance false premises in decision-making, especially
by those who are privileged to be chosen as leaders.

He is therefore accordingly properly guided in all his actions
and inactions as a lawmaker because he knows that laws once enacted
often have far-reaching ramifications, sometimes beyond the
lifetime of the legislators who make them.”

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has
claimed he never voted against the electronic transmission of
results but an amendment to the clause in the recently passed
Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

In a statement issued Saturday by his Special Adviser on
Legislative and Plenary matters, Prince Efe Duku, Omo-agege said
his decision was guided by the reality on ground given the fact
that according to data from the Nigerian Communication Commission,
e-transmission of results is only possible in less than 50 percent
of all electoral domains in the country.

According to the Deputy Senate President, while he supports
Electronic Voting (E-Voting) as contained in Clause 52(2) of the
Electoral Reform Bill, which has been duly passed by the Senate, he
only voted for an amendment to Clause 52(3) of the Bill (on
e-transmission) to guarantee secure e-rransmission of all election
results and uniform application of e-transmission everywhere in the
country, not just some parts of it.

While urging Nigerians to discountenance any mischievous
commentary or speculation to the contrary, the Senator added that
those grandstanding with mischief as their only weapons of offence
are only labouring in vain.

The statement read in part: “Their defeat was perfectly executed
by a majority of the Nigerian Senate. Not being democrats, they
believe they may still achieve their sinister agenda through
misinformation and outright falsehoods. That will not stand.

In simple terms, The Obarisi of Urhobo land voted to support an
amendment that ensures, for example, that INEC does not transmit
only election results in Urhobo electronically while other areas
may have their results transmitted otherwise and safely. For him,
all election results must be treated equally under a uniformly
applied standard.

“Indeed, as an erudite lawyer, i know that it is
unconstitutional for the National Assembly to enact an Electoral
Act that is inherently discriminatory in its design and intended
application. For him, to pass the test of constitutional validity,
the law must apply uniformly to all electoral domains in the
country, otherwise such a law could be easily struck down by a
court if taken for judicial reviews by those who may be negatively
impacted.

I know that Urhobo as Nigeria’s 5th largest ethnic nationality
does not countenance false premises in decision-making, especially
by those who are privileged to be chosen as leaders.

He is therefore accordingly properly guided in all his actions
and inactions as a lawmaker because he knows that laws once enacted
often have far-reaching ramifications, sometimes beyond the
lifetime of the legislators who make them.”