The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association has criticised the Senate for refusing to mandate the electronic transmission of election results, describing the move as a major setback for electoral transparency and democratic accountability in Nigeria.
The position was made known in an executive report presented by the NBA President Afam Osigwe SAN during the National Executive Council meeting held in Maiduguri Borno State. Osigwe informed council members that the Senate recently rejected a proposed amendment to the Electoral Amendment Bill that sought to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to transmit polling unit results electronically in real time.
According to the NBA President the rejected amendment would have required INEC presiding officers to upload polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal immediately after the completion and endorsement of result forms. Instead the Senate chose to retain the existing provision of the Electoral Act which allows results to be transmitted in a manner determined by the commission.
Following extensive deliberations the NBA NEC resolved that the National Assembly should revisit the decision and explicitly provide for mandatory electronic transmission of election results. The association warned that the absence of a clear legal requirement would continue to fuel electoral disputes undermine public confidence and increase election related litigation.
Beyond electoral matters the council also expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in the Federal Capital Territory particularly the resurgence of one chance criminal operations. Osigwe recounted recent incidents in which two women including a nurse and a legal practitioner lost their lives to criminals posing as commercial transport operators.
The NBA described the killings as a painful reminder of the growing insecurity in the nation capital and stressed that professionals and ordinary citizens alike were increasingly vulnerable. The association condemned the attacks in strong terms and called on security agencies and the FCT Administration to treat the situation as an emergency.
The meeting concluded with the NBA reaffirming its commitment to constitutional governance electoral integrity and public safety while urging authorities to take decisive action to restore public confidence.
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