Electronic Transmission brouhaha: Dr Monday Ubani SAN Traces the Mischief, Charts a Path to Credible Elections
Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN, on Saturday appeared on The Morning Show on Arise TV to examine the ongoing amendment of Nigeria’s Electoral Bill especially on the issue of electronic transmission by the National Assembly, offering a historical perspective on the reform and the mischief the proposed changes seek to cure. Responding to questions on his assessment of the new bill as passed by House of Representatives and the Senate on the issue, Dr. Ubani recalled that the Supreme Court of Nigeria, in the last round of election litigation, held that the Electoral Act, 2022 made no provision for electronic transmission of results and did not mention the INEC Result Viewing portal (IReV). That omission, he noted, constrained the courts and made it impossible to invalidate the presidential election on the grounds canvassed. The decision, according to him, exposed clear gaps in the law and provided compelling justification for a comprehensive amendment. He explained that the Hou...