PRESS RELEASE:CREDIBILITY OF 2015 ELECTION SOARS THE IMAGE OF NIGERIA-BELLO …URGES ELECTORAL REFORM COMMITTEE TO STREGTHEN THE USE OF ICT

                                                           

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has said that the credibility of the 2015 General Election has enhanced the image of Nigeria to the outside world and therefore should be improved upon. 

 

The Minister stated this while receiving the Presidential Committee on Constitution and Electoral Reform led by its Chairman, Senator Ken Nnamani in his office at Area 11, Garki I District, Abuja on Thursday.

 

Malam Bello remarked that the election was largely made credible, because of the use of biometrics and card readers by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

 

The Minister therefore urged the Committee to look into strengthening the use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) in all subsequent elections in order to sustain the achievements.

 

Malam Bello reiterated that the use of card reader in elections in Nigeria is a revolution that should be sustained, as it would go a long way in reducing the number of litigations after elections. 

 

He emphasized that Nigeria is ripe and Nigerians are now well educated and enlightened in the use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) in elections considering how the populace make use of mobile telephone in addition to internet data mostly for new media (social media). 

 

The Minister assured that the FCT Administration will support the Committee in doing its work to ensure that the subsequent electoral processes are fair and credible, and seen to be so.

 

Malam Bello appreciated the contributions of Senator Ken Nnamani to the country when he was the Senate President; saying that history will remember him for the role he played to ensure that democracy is sustained.

 

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Constitution and Electoral Reform, Senator Ken Nnamani commended the Minister for the effort of his Administration in completing abandoned projects across the 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory.

 

He said that the Committee is in the FCT Administration to pay the Administration a visit as they were in Abuja to hold a National Public Hearing to collate more information from the residents before turning out an all inclusive report to the government as well as bringing up relevant Bills for enactment by the National Assembly.

 

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye and other top officials of the FCT Administration joined the Minister in receiving the team.

 

Signed

Muhammad Hazat Sule, FCAI

Deputy Director / Chief Press Secretary,

Thursday, March 30, 2017.