The Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has developed a technology that will enable
it transmit election results electronically direct from polling units to its
states’ headquarters.
The Resident Electoral
Commissioner (REC) in Ebonyi, Prof. Godswill Obioma, disclosed this at a meeting
with faith-based organizations on Tuesday, in Abakaliki.
According to him, the new
technology is part of efforts by the commission to eliminate rigging, electoral
frauds and other irregularities and to ensure the enthronement of credibility
and transparency in the electoral process.
Obioma reassured the electorate
that their votes would count in the 2019 general elections and urged them to
participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
“INEC is strengthening the
process of transmitting election results electronically direct from polling
booths to INEC Headquarters.
“We hope that the latest
technological innovation will be perfected and deployed in the 2019 general
elections.
“The new strategy will discourage
politicians from ballot box snatching, stuffing of ballot boxes and indulgence
in other forms of electoral irregularities.
“The commission will do
everything to ensure that votes count in 2019 and that those who will emerge
will emerge through popular votes.
“We have only one message and the
message is that you come out and register and ensure that you collect your PVC
to qualify you to exercise your franchise,” he said.
The REC explained that the
meeting was part of conscious efforts by INEC to build strategic partnership
and alliance that would be harnessed to mobilize the electorate.
“This meeting is aimed at jointly
charting strategic paths for a credible 2019 elections and to see in what best
ways we can partner with the organizations to reach out to their members.
“It is also to mobilize those who
are 18 years and above to come out and register and collect their PVCs,” he
added.
Obioma explained that making the
electoral process more inclusive by getting more people involved in civic
responsibilities would reduce political tension and those chosen in elections
would be better accepted as representatives of the people.
He said that the commission had
embarked on aggressive sensitisation and voter education since he resumed
office as REC in Ebonyi on July 12.
“We have undertaken stakeholders’
town hall meetings in all the 13 local government areas of the state where we
met with the people in their localities and sensitise them to the continuous
voter registration.
“We followed the town hall
meetings with the stakeholders’ village square meetings in the wards across the
local government areas.
“We listened to their views on
how we can do better in our programmes to achieve greater penetration in the
society,” he said.
No fewer than 50 representatives
of faith-based organisations, including Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs
attended the meeting.
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