Electronic Transmission Of Results: We Can’t Guarantee 100 Percent Safety – NCC

 

The Nigerian Communications Commission has revealed that it cannot gaurantee 100% safety of results if transmitted electronically.

 

Executive Commissioner of the NCC, Adeleke Adewolu said this during a rowdy session when he appeared before members of the House of Representatives.

 

Speaking on Friday, Adewolu told lawmakers at the House of Representatives that while concerns over the electronic transmission of results are genuine, no system can guarantee a 100 percent shield from hacking.

 

The NCC boss 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.