TECH DIGEST – The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed that only 50.3 per cent of the 19,0000 polling units in the country are covered by 2G and 3G network.

The Director of Technical Services of the Commission, Obale Maska, made the disclosure during the continuation of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill consideration by the House of Representatives on Friday.

While saying the remaining 49.7 per cent is without network coverage, he added that only 3G network can adequately transmit the results.

The lawmakers had summoned the commission and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain the possibility of e-transmission of election results across the country, following the exchange of blows by the lawmakers regarding the Deputy Speaker’s ruling on the contentious clause.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers just like Thursday are currently engaged in another shouting match while the clauses of the Bill are being considered.

As at the time of filing this report, all effort by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase, who presided over the session, to calm them down, was futile.

Details later….

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TECH DIGEST – The House suddenly adjourned on Thursday following disagreement that arose from the controversial ruling of the deputy speaker while considering the Electoral Amendment Bill.

Despite the full installation of electronic voting, the House of Representatives continues to pass key legislations through voice votes.

On Thursday, the lawmakers used voice vote to consider the Electoral Amendment Bill and incidentally the process was stalled.

Earlier, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabimaila, said they would not use electronic voting because the “clauses are many.”

Mr Gbajabimaila said he received comments that the House ought to have used electronic voting on PIB and the yet -to-be passed electoral bill.

He stated that electronic voting can only be used for a single item piece of legislation, not a “400 clauses” bill.

Mr Gbajabiamila stated this in his remarks before the commencement of plenary on Thursday,

However, this is contrary to a promise he had made.

The Speaker had repeatedly promised the use of electronic voting in the House and committees proceedings.

It was even included in the legislative agenda before it was amended.

“It has been mentioned to me that landmark legislation such as the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill ought to have been considered using the electronic voting system in the House.

“While I agree with this suggestion, e-voting usually in most parts of the world is meant for single item pieces of legislation not 400 clause considerations, except on reports that contain limited number of clauses. As such, it is not ideal for this bill.

“Nonetheless, I take the point and we will make sure that the system is fully deployed in advance of our resumption.”

The use of voice vote was the main reason there was stalemate during the consideration of the bill, as the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, kept on ruling against obvious “louder voices.”

Luke Onofiok (PDP, Akwa-Ibom), Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) and Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) all called for the division of the House to decide clause 52(2) during the consideration of the bill.

However, Mr Wase, who appeared to have an interest in the section, was adamant.

Following the rowdy session over Mr Wase’s actions, the consideration was adjourned till Friday.

Also, the report on the PIB is currently stalled as the House on Thursday stepped down the consideration of the conference committee which recommended three percent for Host communities development fund.

Mohammed Monguno, the chairman of the ad hoc committee, moved for the report to be stepped down following a rowdy session.

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TECH DIGEST – In view of the on-going amendment of Nigeria’s electoral Act to accommodate electronic transmission of results, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said it cannot guarantee total safety for the system.
The Commission further explained that no system is completely free from hackers, according to Channels Television report.

Federal lawmakers had a rowdy session as debates over the inclusion of electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act Amendment took centre stage in the chambers on Thursday in Abuja.

But Adeleke Adewolu, executive commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM) of the NCC, told lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Friday that while concerns over the electronic transmission of results are genuine, no system can guarantee a 100 percent shield from hacking.

The EC also stated that elections results can only be transmitted by a 3G network, noting that 50 percent of the country has 3G coverage.

He, however, explained that for areas without such coverage, poll results can be recorded and thereafter uploaded in places where there is a network. But Adeleke admitted that this cannot be compared with the real-time upload.

The House of Representatives had failed to reach an agreement over the controversial clause.

This was after Deputy Speaker Idris Wase ruled against the electronic transmission of results despite a resounding vote in favour of electronic transmission.

Subsequently, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the NCC would be present on Friday to give further clarifications on the Electoral Act with a major focus on section 52(3).

The Senate had on the same day voted for the conditional electronic transmission of election results.

At the end of voting, 28 Senators mostly from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) voted for the original amendment in the report while 52 Senators backed the amendment as proposed by Senator Sabi Abdullahi.

This means the majority of Senators voted that INEC may consider electronic transmission provided the national network coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by NCC and approved by the National Assembly.

Source: Channels

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