The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the addendum introduced by the Senate in the version of electronic transmission of election results that permits manual transmission where technology is said to have failed.

PDP in a statement by National Publicity Secretary Ini Emembong, described the addendum as “nothing more than a backdoor attempt to achieve the same objective as the earlier outright rejection, while pretending to align with the wishes of the Nigerian people.”

The party noted that manual transmission of election results is already provided for under the Electoral Act, stating that the current agitation for electronic transmission is aimed at introducing a second-layer authentication mechanism that prevents the alteration of results en route to collation centres.

PDP wondered how the same bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) which was successfully used to accredit voters throughout an election could suddenly become unreliable for the transmission of results and accreditation data arising from that same exercise.

“This caveat is a clear indication of the humongous fear being harboured by Senators opposed to electronic transmission, particularly Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom we reasonably suspect remains haunted by the ghost of his 2019 election loss, occasioned by the deployment of technology to curb over voting.

“They must be reminded that Nigeria is bigger than their narrow personal and political interests,” party stated.

It therefore urged members of the Conference Committee to adopt the version of the bill passed by the House of Representatives as the harmonised position, if indeed they are committed to delivering credible elections in 2027.

“They must rise above the instincts of politicians fixated on the next election and instead focus on the sustenance of democracy and the protection of future generations,” PDP advised.

It warned that if Nigeria’s democracy fails, the names of Senator Akpabio and all Senators who voted against electronic transmission would “undoubtedly occupy a conspicuous chapter in the book of infamy.”

The party called on Nigerians to remain resolute in their demand for the real-time electronic transmission of election results.

“This is no time for excuses. This hard-won democracy is far too valuable to be left in the hands of politicians alone,” PDP said.