The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),says there is enough network coverage across the country to guarantee electronic transmission of election results in 2023.
It faulted the position of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to the contrary,adding that the latterbwas aware since 2018 that the Commission has the capacity and capability to transmit results electronically.
INEC’s Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Nick Dazang, gave the clarification during an interview on African Independent Television (AIT) breakfast programme Kakaaki.
Following a stalemated consideration of the report on the Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill over clause 52(2), Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila summoned the NCC to appear and guide the lawmakers.
Officials of the NCC led by the Executive Commissoner (Stakeholder Management), Adeleke Adewolu; Executive Commissioner (Technical Services), Ubale Maska and two others appeared before the lawmakers.
Adewolu had told the lawmakers that only 50 per cent of the country has 3G coverage required for transmission.
He also said NCC could not guarantee total safety for the electronic transmission of results, explaining that no system was completely free from hackers
But,Dazang described the claims as false.
“MTN and Airtel have assisted JAMB to conduct examinations across Nigeria. So INEC is still wondering why NCC has suddenly made a u-turn that there is not enough network coverage in every part of Nigeria”.
He noted that INEC had introduced innovations, which worked well during the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states as well as National Assembly bye-elections across Nigeria.
He added that the constitution has given INEC powers that cannot be shared with any agency of government, pointing out that the directive of the Senate on e-transmission was akin to striping INEC of its powers.
