- Safiu Kehinde
Publisher of the Ovation Magazine and former Presidential candidate, Dele Momodu, has slammed the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over his defence of the red chamber’s rejection of the clause demanding mandatory electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act amendment bill.
NPO Reported that the Senate had come under heavy backlash over its removal of the provision from the bill passed last week.
The development had also been met with protest at the National Assembly complex by the Obidients Movement, African Democrat Congress’ (ADC) Youth Wing, and Civil Society Organisations ((CSOs).
Meanwhile, Akpabio had at a book launchin Abuja during thr weekend defended the Senate’s decision as he cited network problem in about nine states as reason behind the decision.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on his official X handle on Monday, Momodu slammed the Senate President, challenging him to list the names of the states he claimed to be facing network challenge.
The Ovation publisher described the claim as an untenable excuse, stressing that the world is more advanced in technology beyond such excuses.
Momodu demanded engagement between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and service providers in Nigeria to collectively address the network issue ahead of the 2027 election.
“Sir, name the nine States in which mobile networks are not working in Nigeria… Pls, let INEC immediately contact and contract our telecoms giants to work earnestly on those regions.
“We are not in an illiterate era; if telephones and internet are now working at super speeds on aircrafts flying at about 40,000 feet in the skies, we should stop giving untenable excuses.” He wrote.
Momodu held that accepting the Senate President’s claim and cancelling the election at nine States will amount to permanent sentencing of the country to backwardness.
“Would we rather cancel a more credible electoral process because of likely challenges in nine out of 36 States plus Abuja.
“It portrays our country as being permanently sentenced to backwardness, and that we are irreparably damaged beyond rescue!!” He added.