Bayelsa Governorship: INEC Slammed Over Plan To Jettison E-Transmission Of Results

• Pro-democracy groups criticize INEC for merely transmitting results in Bayelsa State governorship elections, fearing electoral manipulation
• The groups call on INEC to reconsider the decision and maintain transparency and accountability in the electoral process

A coalition of pro-democracy organizations in Nigeria has slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for abandoning electronic transmission of results in the upcoming Bayelsa State governorship elections.

Following a meeting in Abuja, the group stated that the proposed manual transmission of results in the November governorship election is an attempt by desperate politicians to manipulate the will of the Bayelsa electorate during the election.

The INEC announced on Wednesday that it would manually transmit the November 11 Bayelsa governorship election results.

Mr. Obo Effanga, the State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), confirmed this.

“Electronic transmission of results is a vital component of ensuring the authenticity and fairness of elections, and its abandonment would undermine the trust of the electorate, Nigerians, and the international community in the electoral process,” said Comrade Olufemi, National Secretary of Campaign for Democracy (CD), and Comrade Atani John of Niger Delta Democratic Vanguard, who signed the groups’ communique.

“We urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider its proposal and uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in the Bayelsa State Governorship Election.”

Sacked NNPP Lawmaker Reclaims Seat At Court of Appeal

Mukhtar Umar Yarima, a representative for the Tarauni Federal Constituency in Kano State and a New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) member, has reclaimed his position at the Court of Appeal.

The National and State House of Assembly elections petition tribunal in Kano annulled Mr. Yarima’s election in August because he gave the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a fake copy of his primary school diploma.

The Court of Appeal dissented, stating that the tribunal had failed to prove a case of forgery.

Consequently, the court set aside the tribunal’s decision and reinstated Mr Yarima as the duly elected member representing Tarauni Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.