A pragmatic pressure group in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Concerned PDP League (CPDPL), has urged the INEC Chairman prof. M. Yakubu and Bayelsa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Obo Effanga, to opt for covering their bodies with leaves in same way they opted for manual transmission of result for the November 11, 2023, Bayelsa governorship election, since they love the stone age so much and wants to take the good people of Bayelsa state there.
The group is wondering if there is no hidden agenda, why will INEC prefer to retrogress to manual transmission of result rather than progress with electronic transmission of result in a technology drive world.
Recall the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for bayelsa state, Mr. Obo Effanga, announced the commission’s plan to transmit results of the November 11 Bayelsa governorship election manually, during a meeting with religious leaders and faith-based organizations in Yenagoa on Wednesday.
But swiftly reacting, condemning and rejecting INEC planned manual transmission of result for the Bayelsa state November 11 governorship election in a statement signed by the leader Comrade D. Z. Warmate and National Secretary Alhaji T. M. Muhammed, and titled: Bayelsa State must not Fall, the group express fears over INEC reason to opt for manual transmission.
The statement, headlined: “Bayelsa Must Not Fall”, reads:
“We wish to vehemently reject the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) propose manual transmission of Bayelsa gubernatorial election result, slated for November 11, 2023.
“We can not fathom in this technology driven world, the reason(s) behind INEC decision to opt for manual transmission of results, if not for retrogressive and satanic agenda to allegedly subvert the will of the good people of Bayelsa state.
“It is totally shocking to note that, INEC will prefer to retrogress to manual transmission of result rather than progress with electronic transmission of result in a technology drive world.
“The INEC Chairman prof. Mamhud Yakubu and Bayelsa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Obo Effanga, should opt for covering their bodies with leaves in same way they opted for manual transmission of result, since they love the stone age so much and wants to take the good people of Bayelsa state there.
“The purpose for the electoral act, 2022, section 47 (2) & 60 (5), was to give INEC, limitless room for technology advancement and not the other way round as the bayelsa REC will want us to believe. Manual transmission of result will be an incentive to voter apathy and prone to rigging.
“We therefore, urge INEC to put everything on ground to transmit the bayelsa gubernatorial election result electronically and refuse any enticement or inducement to take back the good people of bayelsa state to political stone age.”