A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, has said that electronic transmission of results will put an end to violence often witnessed during elections.
Nwuche lauded members of the Senate for the passage of the amended Electoral Act, which empowered the Independent National Electoral Commission to decide on electronic transmission of results.
The former speaker, in a statement titled, ‘Nwuche commends Senate’, issued on Thursday, blamed the manipulation of the electoral process for the growing cases of voter apathy.
He also said, “Part of the reason why many professionals often do not venture into politics is the fear that the votes of the masses will not count even if they voted, and the needless violence and manipulation that has become synonymous with elections.
“Often, some of those who are eventually announced in this flawed process are not the ones preferred by the voters, especially in party primaries where godfathers impose unpopular candidates on hapless members.
“Manipulations have also led to apathy on the part of some youths and the voting populace who feel that their votes won’t count, and decide not to vote, and some to sell their votes for a pittance on the day of election.”
Nwuche also hailed the Senate for amending the Electoral Act to allow for direct primaries said the process will enhance democracy.
“The foundation of any democratic nation is free, fair and credible elections. The electronic transmission of results will avoid the violence often witnessed at elections, especially at the point of manual collation of votes where thugs were deployed to chase away voters and manipulate the results.”
