JONATHAN EXPRESSES SHOCK OVER OPPOSITION TO ELECTRONIC VOTING
POLITICS - Posted on: 30th Sep. 2021 at 2:28PM
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of Nigeria on Wednesday expressed shock over opposition on the call for electronic voting, stating his support for the call.
He said this during his delivery of a lecture on Wednesday at the inauguration ceremony/lecture of the National Defemce College, Course 30, in Abuja.
Jonathan, who stressed that he finds it difficult to believe that there is an opposition on the call for electronic voting, noted that it will ensure the independence of Independent National Electoral Commission, adding that it will improve the credibility of elections.
He said, ”There is no doubt that the independence of the electoral management body is the key plank upon which a thriving democracy rests.
“In Nigeria, the agency with the constitutional responsibility for this role is the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“There is the need for those involved in the ongoing electoral reforms to review their efforts and ask themselves some tough questions.
“That way, they will be able to determine whether they are advancing the course of democracy by working to enhance and protect the constitutionally guaranteed duties of INEC or seeking to encumber the body with unnecessary posturing, capable of negatively affecting the exercise of its independence, in the conduct of elections.
“I have always made the case that electronic voting is the way to go, if we truly desire to secure the credibility and integrity of our elections.
“It is difficult, therefore, to understand why the argument against the possibility of electronic transmission of election results continues to persist, despite all the advancement made in information and communication technology, over the years.
“If we truly desire to deepen the roots of democracy in our land, we should not seek to reverse the progress already recorded by INEC in the application of modern tools in the conduct of elections but aim to improve the processes in the light of new technology. ”
Speaking on the theme, ‘Human security and national development: The whole society approach ‘, the former President said emphasis should be placed on human security.
By Mary Abazuo
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of Nigeria on Wednesday expressed shock over opposition on the call for electronic voting, stating his support for the call.He said this during his delivery of a lecture on Wednesday at the inauguration ceremony/lecture of the National Defemce College, Course 30, in Abuja.
Jonathan, who stressed that he finds it difficult to believe that there is an opposition on the call for electronic voting, noted that it will ensure the independence of Independent National Electoral Commission, adding that it will improve the credibility of elections.
He said, ”There is no doubt that the independence of the electoral management body is the key plank upon which a thriving democracy rests.
“In Nigeria, the agency with the constitutional responsibility for this role is the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“There is the need for those involved in the ongoing electoral reforms to review their efforts and ask themselves some tough questions.
“That way, they will be able to determine whether they are advancing the course of democracy by working to enhance and protect the constitutionally guaranteed duties of INEC or seeking to encumber the body with unnecessary posturing, capable of negatively affecting the exercise of its independence, in the conduct of elections.
“I have always made the case that electronic voting is the way to go, if we truly desire to secure the credibility and integrity of our elections.
“It is difficult, therefore, to understand why the argument against the possibility of electronic transmission of election results continues to persist, despite all the advancement made in information and communication technology, over the years.
“If we truly desire to deepen the roots of democracy in our land, we should not seek to reverse the progress already recorded by INEC in the application of modern tools in the conduct of elections but aim to improve the processes in the light of new technology. ”
Speaking on the theme, ‘Human security and national development: The whole society approach ‘, the former President said emphasis should be placed on human security.
By Mary Abazuo
Posted by: Mary Abazuo
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