Senator Seriake Dickson, who serves on the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, has stated that deleting the phrase “real time” from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill does not dilute the requirement for electronic transmission of election results or compromise transparency.
In an interview with ARISE News on Tuesday, Dickson explained that the Senate’s recent action still mandates the electronic transmission of results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IREV). “I don’t count the proceedings of today and the outcome as a loss for democracy,” he said. Following public backlash, the Senate reconsidered Clause 60(3) of the bill and reinstated electronic transmission of results, while keeping a provision that permits manual collation in cases of network failure. However, critics contend that eliminating the specific reference to “real-time” transmission could create opportunities for manipulation.
Dickson maintained that the primary goal of safeguarding the integrity of the IREV system had been met. He also noted that he was expressing his personal views. “I’m not here as spokesman of the Senate. I’m here to give my views as someone who has been deeply involved in all these processes as a ranking member of this committee and as someone who participated in the proceedings of today,” he said.
He explained that discussions on electronic transmission had lasted nearly two years, involving engagements with INEC and other stakeholders.
“This has been going on for about two years or so — different workshops, conferences at the Senate Committee, joint committees and also interactions with INEC,” he said.
Dickson disclosed that he was absent when the Senate initially rejected compulsory electronic transmission because of a personal loss.
“I was not there when the Senate took that decision earlier, about a week ago, as I was bereaved… Today was the very first day I went to sit in the Senate because of the importance of this matter,” he said. On the controversy surrounding the phrase “real time”, Dickson argued that the term was being misunderstood.
“What is the meaning of real time? We are not voting electronically in Nigeria,” he said, adding that “the word ‘real time’ in this context is actually superfluous. It doesn’t on its own give you a transparent election.”
According to him, transparency lies in securing polling unit results.
“The primary evidence of who won an election is the EC8A… INEC compels presiding officers to transmit the result to IREV. That is good enough for us,” he declared.