E-Transmission Of Votes: Anambra Senators In Trouble; Constituents Threaten Them; Ekwunife Faces Consequences

By Adesina Soyooye

The storm caused by the rejection of the Electronic Transmission of Votes by the Senate on Thursday, July 15, 2021, is just beginning in Anambra State.

Anger is rising, and threatening to boil over. Recall threats and/or rubbishing of future ambitions are in the offing.

On the day of voting at the Senate, the three Senators representing Anambra State, managed to be absent from the Chambers and so, did not vote.

They are Senators Uche Ekwunife, PDP, Stella Oduah, PDP, and Ifeanyi Uba, YPP.

Not a few Nigerians, especially, the South-east where the three Senators hail from, were in support of the E-Transmission of results. Political parties, except the All Progressives Congress, APC, were in support.

They saw it as an  antidote to electoral fraud, especially, rigging. Many had expected that in order to strengthen democracy, the Senators, especially, those from the South would be in support of the E-Transmission of votes.

But they disappointed.

They chose to vote across party and ethnic lines. Senators from the South-east, especially, PDP Senators, were the worst culprits.They disappointed where, and when it mattered most.

But, Anambra people are angry. And have taken their three Senators to task. They are asking for an explanation. They are asking why they were absent, and missed that important voting which was in the heart of their constituents.

Of the three Senators, only Ubah offered an explanation  as to why he was absent. But it was an explanation many have jeered at. They say it was an explanation better not made. Senator Ubah had said he was present that day,  but walked out because the Senate President, Dr Ahmed Lawan,  over-ruled him when he wanted to ask a question.

But in a letter to the three Senators, signed  by its President, Chijoke Okoli, SAN,  the League of Anambra Professionals, LAP, is spitting fire. It is threatening to drag them before the Anambra people for their inexplicable and  irresponsible disappointment of the people. “Please, be put on notice that LAP shall put you to task before Anambra State people/Electorate. You must account for this egregious  dereliction of duty, if not now, then in the near future.”

LAP, also held their behavior responsible for the youth crisis in the State. It wrote: “It is axiomatic that it is this kind of leadership disconnect and irresponsibility that helped in providing oxygen  for tge growth and nihilistic of IPOB and the youths in the area.

Following is the full text of LAP’s letter to the Senators:

“Distinguished Senator, greetings.

“Discerning Anambra State indigenes including especially those of us in the League of Anambra Professionals [LAP] are in paralysing shock that you and the other Senators from our state were absent during the momentous vote in the Senate on the Electoral Act Amendment bill.

“Please be put on notice that LAP shall put you to task before the Anambra state people/electorate. You must account for this egregious dereliction of duty, if not now then in the near future.

“It is axiomatic that it is this kind of leadership disconnect and irresponsibility that helped in providing oxygen for the growth and the nihilistic excesses of IPOB and the youths in our area.

“It beggars belief that the existential socio-political turbulence which has engulfed our land has not taught our political leadership (of which you constitute a prominent part) that the tide has changed irrevocably and it can no longer be business as usual where political representatives represent anything but the interests of the people on whose behalf they are wielding power”For one of the Senators, Iyom Uche Ekwunife, it is double  “wahala.”

In a separate letter to her, Ekwunife’s immediate Constituency is asking her for an explanation on her absence that day on the floor of the Senate.

In a letter signed on behalf of the Obosi Development Union, ODU, Abuja, by its President, Engr Goddy Ikebuaku, dated 19th July, 2021, titled: Request for Explanation of Your Absence At Plenary On Thursday, 15th July, 2021, the Union expressed its dismay, asked for explanation, and warned her of the consequences of her action if not well handled.

ODU told her: “Bear in mind that if this issue is not well handled, it has the capacity to overshadow your performance, and define your legacy as our representative as it portrays a clear and unambiguous disconnect with the desires of your Constituents.”

The letter reads: “We are members of Obosi Development Union (ODU), Abuja Branch, your Constituents, whom you represent at the Red Chambers of the National Assembly.

“We have observed with dismay from the compilation of the votes of Senators for tge Bill on Electronic Transmission of Election Results, that you were absent on Thursday, 15th July 2021, when the Draft Bill was put to vote on the floor of the Senate Chambers; a day that presented an opportunity for history to be made in the electoral process of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a country bedeviled with various forms of electoral riggings and manipulations.

“We have no doubt that you are aware that the disaffection with the electoral system in Nigeria is intrinsically connected to the lack of integrity and confidence in the electoral result delivery process. The acrimony and violence in our electoral process has led to fatalities too numerous to mention. Obosi, as a town has experienced  quite a  number of fracasses that culminated in deaths during the election result collation process, hence our feeling of disappointment that our voice did not count owing to your absence on the day of the vote.

“As our representative in the Senate,we expect that when very sensitive and important  decisions or voting is taking place in the Senate, you will not only make yourself available, but also use every means possible to lobby your colleagues, ( especially those from the North because of their numerical strength) to support initiatives that will advance the cause of your constituents.

“Iyom, bear in mind that if this issue is not well handled, it has the capacity to overshadow your performance and define your legacy as our representative, as it portrays a  clear and unambiguous disconnect with the desires of your constituents.

“Please, also, note that unless satisfactory explanation is offered, our members and your constituents at large, are inclined to view your action as typical of politicians who profit, or hope to profit from election result manipulation  that has bedeviled our electoral system, and frustrated the desires of the people to elect representatives of their choice as guaranteed by the 1999 constitution.

“We look forward to receiving your prompt response on this matter.”

So many organizations have   described the action of most of the Senators from the South-east as a coup against their people.