“Let INEC decide whether they can do it or not” – David Mark to Akpabio Senate on electoral reform

Former Senate President and chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark has cautioned the leadership of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio over the controversial rejection of the electronic transmission of election results.

Mark while speaking at the launch of “The Burdens of Legislators in Nigeria,” a book by former Senator Effiong Bob in Abuja over the weekend said the electoral body should be allowed to prove its capacity.

His comments on the Senate’s rejection of the electronic transmission of results followed comments by Akpabio over the ongoing debate on the amendment of the Electoral Act.

According to Mark, Akpabio as the Senate President has been saddled with the responsibility to speak solely for the National Assembly and its lawmakers.

Referring to Akpabio as his good friend, the ADC chieftain urged the Senate and its leadership to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to speak for itself.

He also stated that the public’s key demand on the amendment of the Electoral Act is for real-time transmission of results from the polling centres.

He further noted that the argument surrounding INEC’s capacity to deliver on the public’s demand is secondary.

The former Senate President stated that the primary focus of the legislature is to pass a law that would allow the electronic transmission of results from every polling unit during the election.

“Let INEC decide whether they can do it or not. Don’t speak for INEC. Speak for the National Assembly.

“What the public wants is, let there be electronic transmission. If INEC cannot do it, that is their problem, not yours,” Mark said.