Electoral Act: Akpabio enemy of democracy, should be removed – Kenneth Okonkwo

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, hasdescribed Senate President Godswill Akpabio as an enemy of democracy. Okonkwo said this on Sunday during an interview on ‘InsideSources’ with Laolu Akande. The lawyer said the Senate President should be removed if hedoes not resign honourably from the office. The Nollywood veteran-turned politician was reacting torejection of real-time electronic transmission of election results by theSenate. The Senate on Wednesday turned down a proposed change toClause 60, sub-section 3 of the Electoral Amendment Bill that sought to makeelectronic transmission of election results compulsory. Reacting, Okonkwo said, “Let me tell you the beautiful andnotable pronouncement by Abba Aji, a Justice of the Supreme Court. He said,modernity and technology stir us in the face, and we cannot turn back the handof time. “He said, to go against the use of technology and electronictransmission and transfer of election results in this high-tech era and periodis to be an enemy of democracy and to stick to the vicious cycle of electionrigging, manipulation, and falsification. “Why would the legislature prevaricate on an issue that theSupreme Court had told you that it encourages electoral rigging, manipulationand makes you an enemy of democracy. “What it means is that Senator Godswill Akpabio has becomean enemy of democracy and is sticking to the vicious cycle of election rigging,manipulation, falsification, and subterfuge by trying to maintain the sameprovision that Supreme Court told you that if you do, you’re an enemy ofdemocracy. “That man is an enemy of democracy and should be removed ifhe doesn’t resign.”

Read More