The Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa has warned that the rejection of electronic transmission of election results by the National Assembly through votes of most members of both chambers of the parliament against that clause in the Electoral Act, could deter the country’s effort at attracting Foreign Direct Investments, FDIs.
Speaking when he received the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Pastor Monday Udoh-Tom and his management team on an advocacy visit on Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), Okowa said that the lawmakers’ action could be interpreted that there was a plan to rig elections.
He, however, commended Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its efforts at ensuring the credibility of the electoral process and for declaring that it had capacity to transmit results electronically.
The Governor warned that rejection of electronic transmission of election results could deter the country’s effort at attracting Foreign Direct Investments.
He said: “We must truly appreciate INEC for the fact that on a daily basis they are thinking of the best ways to move our electoral system forward such that we are able to minimise all possibilities of fraud.
“Once Nigerians trust our electoral process, many Nigerians will come out to register and vote during elections. We need to change the narrative of many Nigerians that whether they vote or not, results will still come out the way they want it.
“I want to specially congratulate the INEC Chairman for coming out to insist that INEC has the capacity to truly transmit election results and I do not see any reason why any Nigerian would want to vote for non-transmission of election results.
“It’s actually very wrong. It gives the people the impression that some people are out to rig elections from day one. It’s not the best for us as a nation and it sends wrong communication.
“It’s not just good for our economy and our image as a nation, because until people learn to trust our electoral processes, it will be difficult for people to come in and do business with us.
“Foreign direct investments cannot come to a nation where they cannot trust our electoral processes. It is doable and possible. We saw it with Edo State election and I believe that the processes and technology being put in place will help to make it work.”
He appreciated INEC for the way the recent by-election in Isoko North was conducted
“We have our challenges as a Country but in spite of these challenges we have a duty to encourage the people to trust on our electoral process.
