Orji Kalu: Nigeria needs 95% GSM coverage for e- transmission of results

Sen. Orji Kalu

Sen. Orji Kalu

By Ikenna Uwadileke

Senator Orji Kalu, the Chief Whip of the Senate said Nigeria requires 95 per cent of national network coverage to be able to transmit election results electronically.

He said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Earlier in July, 52 senators had voted against electronic transmission of results in the forthcoming general election while 28 voted for and 28 were absentees.

The senators insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission should be compelled to seek clearance from Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) while the National Assembly would have to approve the verdict of NCC.

Kalu insisted the current network coverage was inadequate.

“I have never been against transmission of results, I only said we don’t have adequate coverage where we live, this is the issue.

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“We have coverage, but it is not adequate.

‘Like Abia North Senatorial District where I come from, there is no adequate coverage, maybe 43 per cent coverage, so how are we going to do that.

” I believe in electronic transmission, but I want to quickly urge the NCC to deploy their technology to ensure wider coverage; I believe in that process because it is transparent.

”Truth is I don’t want to listen to officials who want to buy equipment and make commissions, I am telling myself the truth, if we even have a coverage of 95 per cent it will be okay, but we have below 50 per cent in the entire country.

“I am not talking about my constituency. It wasn’t a party decision to vote against e transmission and not a clique decision, it was out of my conscience.

”I can only do what I will do that will benefit all Nigerians,” Kalu said.

NAN

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