Omo-Agege Clarifies Position On Electoral Amendment Bill, Says ‘All Is Well’

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has explained his stance on the much-debated subject of electronic voting and transmission of election results under Clause 52 (2) and 52 (3) of the Electoral Bill 2021 as being amended by the national assembly.

He spoke following what he called “mischievous commentary or speculation” among some of his constituents that he didn’t vote in favour of electronic voting (E-voting) as contained in Clause 52(2) of the Bill that has been duly passed by the Senate.

BIGPENNGR reports that Senator Omo-Agege made the clarification in a statement by his Special Adviser on Legislative & Plenary Matters, Prince Efe Duku on Saturday.

According to him, “As a chief architect of and resourceful actor in the ongoing electoral reform” he supported electronic voting and transmission of election results wholeheartedly but had wisely and courageously voted for an amendment to Clause 52(3) of the Bill (on e-transmission) to guarantee secure E-Transmission of all election results and uniform application of E-Transmission everywhere in the country, not just some parts of it.

Reaffirming that he did not vote against E-Transmission of election results, Omo-Agege said that he voted to support an amendment that ensures that INEC does not transmit only election results in Urhobo electronically while other areas may have their results transmitted otherwise and safely.

For him, “all election results must be treated equally under a uniformly applied standard”, Prince Duku said in the statement.

“Indeed, Senator Omo-Agege as an erudite lawyer knows that it is unconstitutional for the National Assembly to enact an Electoral Act that is inherently discriminatory in its design and intended application”.

For him, “to pass the test of constitutional validity, the law must apply uniformly to all electoral domains in the country, otherwise such a law could be easily struck down by a court if taken for judicial reviews by those who may be negatively impacted”.

Furthermore, “in arriving at his thoughtful decision, Senator Omo-Agege was guided by unimpeached data from the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) that E-Transmission of results is only possible in less than 50% of all electoral domains in the country”.

He argued that the implication of the message from NCC data is that if INEC is allowed unfettered E-Transmission power, then there will be unequal treatment of election results and that would be a fundamental lawmaking flaw.

“So he (Omo-Agege) stood firm to prevent such a move that would have led to a needless waste of legislative resources and time”, Prince Duku averred.

The statement further reads; “The Deputy President of the Senate, His Excellency Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, appreciates the honour to represent the good people of Delta Central Senatorial District and indeed the entire Urhobo Nation in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as itself a solemn duty that demands divine guidance, deep wisdom, flawless reasoning, and courage to make informed decisions in the best interest of our people and the Nation as a whole.

“Senator Omo-Agege knows that Urhobo as Nigeria’s 5th largest ethnic nationality does not countenance false premises in decision-making, especially by those who are privileged to be chosen as leaders. He is therefore accordingly, properly guided in all his actions and inactions as a lawmaker because he knows that laws once enacted often have far-reaching ramifications, sometimes beyond the lifetime of the legislators who make them.

“Our people should therefore discountenance any mischievous commentary or speculation to the contrary. Those grandstanding with mischiefs as their only weapons of offence are only labouring in vain.

“In view of the foregoing, we hereby confidently assure our people that all is well as far as the ongoing Electoral Reform is concerned. Senator Omo-Agege as a leading champion of the reform since he first stepped into the Red Chamber in the 8th Senate is protecting the best, strategic interest of our people and the Nation”, the statement reassured.