..Says the new Act will enhance grassroots participation and democratic growth
A Senatorial Aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr (Barrister) Olumuyiwa Adu who is popularly known as “Cubana” has described the position of the newly amended Electoral Act on the transmission of election results as reasonable.
He noted that the Senate was objective in its decision to make provision for both manual and electronic transmission of the election results in the amended Electoral Act.
Adu, a security expert of international recognition, stated this recently in Akure, the Ondo State capital, while commenting on the provisions of the new electoral act.
The chartered accountant and Oil magnate noted that the federal lawmakers took into consideration the possibility that the internet service could be disrupted on the election days.
He, however, stated that if the citizens are sincere with the system, there shouldn’t be any reason to suspect any foul play.
The renowned Philanthropist emphasised that there shouldn’t be any reason for any candidate to nurse any fear as the law provides an opportunity to challenge the results irrespective of the manner in which the results were collated.
Adu said, “There are two issues here. The issue of how INEC will conduct that election. They(Senators) were objective in that aspect. Objective in the sense that people are considering what may happen if, for any reason whatsoever, our internet system cannot support INEC.
“There must be some form of exception to that, which was exactly what I saw being provided for in that particular law.
“It shouldn’t be a problem if we are really sincere with this country. From that polling unit, you have the result of what you saw there.
“Whether it is sent electronically or manually, as long as you have it, you can still challenge it in court. That shouldn’t be a problem.”
Speaking on the two methods of selecting candidates for political parties-Direct Primary or Consensus, Adu explained that the direct method shouldn’t attract any criticism because it provides a platform for card-carrying members of each party to participate in the selection of the party’s candidates.
He said it’s a good development which would not augur well with only those who had hitherto been imposing candidates on party members.
According to him, “About direct primaries, I don’t think we are beginning to get it right. Why must you impose on some people through a few individuals? That is what was done in the past. You appoint delegates, dictated by some leaders, to go and select candidates for thousands or millions of people. It is very wrong.
“You sit somewhere and decide. Even when electing ward leaders, chairmen, secretaries, and women leaders, they were imposed on people. An individual would just decide to put names forward, and that would be it.
“But now, if you are a member of a political party and you carry a card identifying you as such, you can come out and join others to choose who should be your candidate in an election. That is perfectly in order. I don’t think anybody should oppose that. I believe we are making progress democratically and politically.”
