The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), on Friday, said it is impossible for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results electronically from all polling units in the country.
Ubale Ahmed Maska, NCC Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, said this when he appeared before the House of Representatives.
Maska said election results can only be transmitted in areas with 3G network (third generation) of wireless mobile telecommunications technology.
He appeared before the house along with three other officials of the NCC, to explain the workability of electronic transmission of election results by INEC.
The NCC was invited by the house of representatives over the contentious Clause 52 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Maska said half of the polling units across the country have at least a 2G and 3G coverages.
He explained that an electronic transmission network must be 3G, which he said may not be available in many of the polling units.
When asked about the possibility of the network being hacked, he said there is no network that is 100 per cent secured.
He referenced the recent election in the United States in which a server was said to have been hacked.
The NCC team, however, suggested to the house to invite NIGCOMSAT, to give further explanation on satellite coverage, and whether it will be useful in the electronic transmission of election results.
Femi Gbajabiamila, the speaker of the house, announced that the chamber will revert to the Committee of the Whole, to continue and take all the Clauses.
“Now that we are better informed, we will go back to the Committee of the whole and take all the Clauses including Section 52,” he said.
But when the house reverted to the committee, it went into another rowdy session as it was on Thursday, with members disagreeing on continuation of Clause 52.
The committee’s proceeding was later called to order and considerations continued.
The bill was eventually passed and the PDP caucus staged a walkout.
