Controversy Surrounds INEC’s Decision to Use Manual Transmission in Bayelsa Guber Election

In the lead-up to the off-season elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States, concerns have arisen regarding the transparency and integrity of the electoral process. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently announced its intention to manually transmit the results of the upcoming Bayelsa governorship election, sparking a wave of skepticism among Nigerians.

The State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Obo Effanga, disclosed this decision during an interactive meeting with religious leaders and faith-based organizations in Yenagoa, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Effanga assured that INEC was prepared to conduct free, fair, and credible elections, emphasizing that only voters accredited by the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be allowed to vote. He also highlighted the ongoing process of PVC (Permanent Voter Card) collection, ending on October 11.

However, the decision to revert to manual transmission has not been well-received by many Nigerians, who view it as a significant setback. This move comes after INEC successfully employed the BVAS and electronic transmission of election results in Ekiti, Osun, and Anambra States, which were considered groundbreaking. These technological advancements played a pivotal role in the passage of the Electoral Act 2023.

INEC had previously promised electronic transmission of results before the 2023 general elections but failed to deliver on this commitment during the presidential election. Recent court judgments indicate that the commission has the discretion to choose how election results are transmitted.

The Court of Appeal, Lagos division, recently voided a Federal High Court decision that mandated INEC to electronically upload results directly to the Results Viewing Portal (IReV). The judgment asserted that the law grants INEC broad discretionary powers regarding result transmission.

Nonetheless, the debate over electronic transmission of election results persists, as it remains a central issue in petitions by presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who argue that INEC violated provisions of the amended Electoral Act by not transmitting results electronically.

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CSLAC) has criticized INEC’s decision to manually transmit the November 11 Guber election, labeling it as a desperate move that could enable political manipulation. They stressed the importance of transparency in the electoral process, including accurate and timely result transmission.

The coalition of pro-democracy civil society groups in Nigeria has also rejected manual collation, emphasizing the significance of electronic transmission for fair and authentic elections.

Another civil group, the Good Governance Advocacy Group (GGAG), expressed concern over INEC’s decision, highlighting the significant investment in technology for credible elections and questioning the abandonment of electronic transmission.

In light of this controversy, voices within Nigerian politics, including the Forum of State Chairmen of the NNPP and the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, are calling for transparency and the use of electronic transmission to ensure the credibility of the electoral process.

As the nation anticipates the upcoming elections, the choice between manual and electronic transmission of results has become a focal point, sparking a nationwide discussion about the future of electoral integrity in Nigeria.