Senator Criticizes Election Results Controversy
Senator Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa West has spoken out over the dispute surrounding electronic transmission of election results, saying the Independent National Electoral Commission has the capacity to upload results across the country.
He made the remarks during an interview on Arise News TV.
He said he was saddened when the Senate initially declined to approve the clause mandating electronic transmission from polling units, especially as the House of Representatives had passed the agreed version.
According to him, the measure had been shaped through years of discussions involving lawmakers and INEC officials.
Dickson admitted he understood the anger expressed by Nigerians during recent protests and said he shared their frustration.
After the Senate’s emergency session, he engaged members of the leadership who later supported a motion to revisit the decision, though with a condition allowing manual validation where network issues occur.
He maintained that INEC has repeatedly assured lawmakers of its readiness to transmit results nationwide, noting that areas capable of handling electronic banking and calls can also support result uploads.
While he described the final outcome as imperfect, he urged citizens to stay engaged in the democratic process and ensure their votes are counted and transmitted through the official portal.
