Mahdi Shehu has warned that Nigerians are being misled following the Senate’s recent emergency session on electoral reforms.
Shehu was reacting to a report that the Senate on Tuesday reversed its earlier decision rejecting real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Results Viewing Portal (IReV).
The new provision allows electronic transmission but adds that if the electronic transmission fails and it becomes difficult to transmit the results, the form EC8A will be the primary means of collation.
Commenting on the development, Shehu described the amendment as next level deception and multiple levels of traps.
He pointed out that the provision allowing manual transmission of results in case of network failure could be exploited.
“Where there is a network failure, election results will be uploaded and transmitted manually is trap number one.”
Shehu also highlighted that Nigerian communication and satellite agencies, which fall under federal government control, could be manipulated to disrupt networks, forcing election officials to resort to manual transmission.
“That means rigging unlimited which is trap number two,” he said.
Another aspect, according to Shehu, is the requirement that all election officials, including security personnel, must sign result sheets before electronic transmission.
“This implies that if the IGP, DG of DSS, or Commandant of Civil Defence orders their officers to withdraw from polling units midway or before counting concludes fully aware that their signatures are necessary for electronic transmission, INEC officials would have no choice but to resort to manual transmission,” he said.
According to Mahdi Shehu, this creates yet another opportunity for unlimited manipulation of results, which he labels trap number three.
Shehu called the Senate’s emergency meeting and amendment another insult to the collective intelligence of Nigerians.
He urged citizens to stay alert.
“Nigerians, open your eyes well. You are being taken for a ride and for granted by dangerous smart alecs.’”
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