Osita Okechukwu, the director general of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for endorsing electronic transmission of results (Bimodal Voters Accreditation System).
Okechukwu also asked Nigerians to see the endorsement as a Christmas gift.
This was made known on Thursday in Abuja by the VON DG in his Christmas message to Nigerians.
He said, “A lot of those disappointed over Mr President withholding of assent to the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill 2021; did not appreciate the significance of the retention of Electronic Transmission of results.
“This is the BVAS Xmas Gift, the vaccine to vote rigging and enabler of free and fairer elections in Nigeria.”
The APC Chieftain commended the President and the National Assembly members for the “2021 Christmas gift of Electronic Transmission of election results.”
According to him, by collectively endorsing the use of BVAS technology, Buhari, federal lawmakers and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission deserve commendation for gifting the country with such a wonderful vaccine to election rigging.
He assured Nigerians that Buhari will bequeath a clean amended Electoral Act for the development of the country’s democracy.
Okechukwu also expressed confidence that Buhari has remained on the track in the laborious task of cleaning up the nation’s political space, saying, “I am humbled, especially when one recalls the cacophony of damaging voices over the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021. But, looking at the inclusion of the BVAS technology, one is compelled to thank Mr President, NASS and INEC, for not throwing away the baby with the bathwater.”
He noted that although well-meaning citizens had canvassed for an enhanced package comprising both the Electronic Transmission of Results and the mandatory Direct Primary mode of selecting candidates by all political parties, which was submitted to the President for assent, Nigerians should look at the brighter picture.
He explained, “The brighter side is that with the eyes of experience and determination to eliminate confusion in the electoral system, President Buhari did not assent to the bill as presented, but rather made salient observations, which is expected in the spirit of envisaged Executive-Legislature cooperation would be patriotically resolved.
“That is the hallmark of a liberal democracy that thrives on a collaborative Bipartisanship synergy between the executive and the parliament, particularly for a Presidential system. That it did not go down well with many people is understandable, especially given the national outcry against the sustained despotism of our dear Emperor like State Governors.”
He also urged Nigerians to peruse the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the President’s response and INEC’s submission, which endorsed the BVAS as a vaccine to vote-rigging.