PDP faults APC Senators over decision on electronic transmission of election results

By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has faulted the refusal of the APC Senators to approve the demand by Nigerians across board for electronic transmission of election results without conditions.
The party specifically described the action of the APC Senators as a preparation for mass rigging of elections across Nigeria by the ruling party, pointing out that it must be firmly resisted.
The PDP said this in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja.
The main opposition party further said that the action of the APC Senators
amounted to a suspension of the 1999 constitution (as amended), which is a recipe for crisis that could derail the nation’s democracy and destabilize the country.
The statement reads in party, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and indeed majority of Nigerians are shocked over the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Senate to undermine our electoral process by refusing to approve the demand by Nigerians across board for electronic transmission of election results without conditionalities.
“The action of the APC senators is an atrocious assault on the sensibilities of Nigerians, who looked up to the Senate for improvement in our electoral process in a manner that will engender free, fair and credible process.
“It is outrageous that the APC and its Senators, in their desperate bid to annex the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seek to route a statutorily independent commission to the approval of an individual masquerading in the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC); an agency under executive control in addition to an extra endorsement of the legislature, before conducting elections. “This action of the APC senators is a direct affront, novel in its recklessness and a defilement of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which clearly conferred operational independence to INEC to conduct elections, free from interferences and regulations from any other agency of government.
“The decision of the APC Senators therefore amounts to a suspension of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which is a recipe for crisis that could derail our democracy and destabilize our nation.