Victor Ogené, representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in Anambra State, has voiced significant concerns regarding the integrity of Nigeria's 2027 general elections. He urges a commitment to the real-time electronic transmission of results to avoid undermining public confidence and transparency.
In a recent conversation with Arise News, Ogené criticized President Tinubu's signing of the Electoral Act 2026 Amendment Bill, labeling it a 'fiat accompli' thrust upon the populace. He lamented how vital electoral reforms had been diluted just before this critical moment.
"Congratulations to the President and the APC for imposing a fiat accompli on the people of Nigeria," Ogené remarked.
He added, "We were aware that the 2027 elections were approaching, and it seems they chose the last minute intentionally to stifle any protests from civil society or the media."
"It is a somber day for democracy as millions of Nigerians begin their religious fasts. We will look back on this moment with sadness due to the forced acceptance of this decision," Ogené expressed.
The amendment, approved shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the election timetable, has ignited discussions over the electronic transmission of results. Ogené specifically criticized a clause that allows a return to traditional physical forms instead of relying solely on electronic systems, which he believes could diminish transparency and erode public trust.
Ogené stated, "The primary goal of legislation is to fix known and unknown issues. Following the 2023 elections, where operational flaws became prevalent, I assumed we would guarantee real-time result transmission for 2027. Instead, we are regressing to previous methods involving incident forms, which is completely unjust."
He challenged the assertion of technical barriers, referencing a report by the Nigerian Communications Commission and INEC indicating that network coverage was between 93% and 97% during earlier elections.
"Why are we still discussing coverage now when we had over 90% four years ago?" he questioned.
Furthermore, Ogené raised concerns regarding the legitimacy of conference committees making amendments to essential provisions of the law without adequate oversight. "Conference committees lack the authority to implement changes," he said.
He noted, "Despite that, we observed adjustments made to clause 84 on the House floor, altering the process for candidate nominations by political parties without any proper mandate. Nigerians deserve open and precise legislation, not last-minute alterations."
Despite these considerable hurdles, Ogené urged citizens to remain active and utilize their votes to demand accountability. "Elections hinge on trust and integrity. The widespread sentiment is that by the time we approach 2027, the election process has already been undermined," he stated.
"However, the fight for democracy is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. Nigerians must vote to rectify injustices and persist in holding their leaders accountable within the framework of the law," he concluded.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!