A former head of Voter Education of the Independent National Electronic Commission (INEC), Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, has said that the decision of the Senate to subject INEC to the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) on electronic transmission of electoral results is null and void.
The former INEC’s spokesman said it is unconstitutional to usurp the power of the commission and give it to the NCC and National Assembly on transmitting votes of election.
He said INEC is a creation of the constitution, just like the National Assembly, and cannot become subject to the whims of the lawmakers on discharging it’s constitutional mandates.
He accused the lawmakers of betraying their oath of their office by pandering to party sentiment.
He said as at 2018, only about 8,000 polling units out of the 120,000 polling units are lacking in network coverage, and that most of those areas have now been covered.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari should keep to his promise of supporting INEC to conduct free and fait elections by withholding assent to the bill.