According to the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) in Oyo State, Nigerian elections could be peaceful if an electronic voting system is implemented.
Taiwo Omotunde, the association’s governor, made the claim on Sunday while briefing reporters at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on the results of the association’s election.
Mr. Omotunde, the Chief Executive Officer of Eternal Beats Band, was re-elected unopposed using the association’s electronic voting system.
With the exception of the position of Social Secretary, which was contested and won by Abosede Adeleke, he was re-elected unopposed.
He recommended the electronic voting system to INEC and other national organizations.
According to him, the system ensures that elections are fair, transparent, and free of violence.
Mr. Omotunde stated that the electronic voting system would allow the people’s will to prevail in the selection of their leader.
The juju music maestro recalled how his first election as governor of the state’s PMAN was marred by stalemate, violence, and irregularities.
Mr. Omotunde was pleased with the voting system, which he said allowed members to vote from anywhere in the country or abroad.
I became the PMAN governor in 2018 through a very difficult election.
The election was postponed for six months due to stalemate and violence. The election almost caused us our goodwill before the public.
When I became the governor, I promised my people that the next election would be transparent, fair and violence-free.
We spent too much on the election, which also caused division among our members.
So, I decided we will have an electronic voting system that will guarantee smooth accreditation and voting exercise.
Today, you can see that the process was free, fair and transparent,’ he said.
Earlier, Oluwaseye Oni, chairman of the PMAN electoral committee, stated that the adoption of an electronic voting system enabled them to achieve success.
Despite the difficulties in aligning members to the new technology, Mr Oni declared the process a success.
It wasn’t an easy decision, but thank God, it went smoothly. The system guaranteed voting from anywhere across the world with the use of android phones.
This system promotes trust. We ensure the system allows for physical voting. Many who came today have seen the process and it will guarantee trust in the next election, he said.
Mr Oni thanked the immediate past executive members of the association for giving their maximum support, ensuring the conduct of free, fair, transparent and violence-free elections.