Electoral Act: ADC Chieftain Labels Akpabio ‘Enemy of Democracy,’ Calls for His Removal

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has described Senate President Godswill Akpabio as an enemy of democracy over the Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission of election results.

Okonkwo made the remark on Sunday during an interview where he stated that Akpabio should be removed from office if he fails to resign honourably.

He was reacting to the Senate’s decision to reject real-time electronic transmission of election results.

Politics Nigeria recalls that the Senate, on Wednesday, voted against a proposed amendment to Clause 60, subsection 3 of the Electoral Amendment Bill, which sought to make electronic transmission of election results compulsory.

Reacting to the decision, Okonkwo said, “Let me tell you the beautiful and notable pronouncement by Abba Aji, a Justice of the Supreme Court. He said modernity and technology stare us in the face, and we cannot turn back the hand of time.

“He said to go against the use of technology and electronic transmission and transfer of election results in this high-tech era is to be an enemy of democracy and to stick to the vicious cycle of election rigging, manipulation, and falsification.

“Why would the legislature prevaricate on an issue that the Supreme Court has already told you encourages electoral rigging, manipulation and makes you an enemy of democracy?

“What it means is that Senator Godswill Akpabio has become an enemy of democracy and is sticking to the vicious cycle of election rigging, manipulation, falsification and subterfuge by trying to maintain the same provision the Supreme Court warned against.

“That man is an enemy of democracy and should be removed if he doesn’t resign.”