Electoral Reform: NCC clarifies on electronic transmission of results

Following the discussion surrounding the passage of Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC), has clarified that inadequate 3G telecommunication coverage across the Country would hinder electronic transmission of election results.

NCC made this known to NewsDirect on the heels of its appearance in federal House of Representatives on Friday.

The House summoned NCC’s officials recently over the suitability of the use of electronic devices for the transmission of election.

The Commission was represented before the House members by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC, Engr. Ubale Maska and the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Mr. Adeleke Adewolu.

Maska, who spoke on behalf of the team, told members of House of Representatives that less than 50% of the country enjoys 3G Internet coverage for which electronic transmission of results could rely on.

Ubale stated that as at 2018, when the Commission carried out a survey of 109,000 polling units, of the country’s 119,000 polling units were covered.

He explained that the surveyed polling unit areas were covered mostly by the 3G and 2G networks, which represents about 50.3% of the entire country.

He added that about 49.7% of the national spread did not have Internet coverage, which will be required for real-time electronic transmission of electoral results.

When asked if 2G technology could be used for electronic transmission of results, Engr. Maska said though he wished the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was around to answer, however, only 3G could transmit results effectively.

Recall that on Thursday, July 15, 2021, House members invited the NCC to brief it on the nation’s network coverage before continuing debate on the contentious provision of electronic transmission of results during elections.