2027: Ebonyi senator, Eze proposes single tenure of 16yrs for presidency, govs, others 

….says Nat’l Assembly never rejected electronic transmission of votes 

By Uchenna Okeh Abakaliki 

The senator representing Ebonyi Central zone in the national Assembly, senator Ken Eze has ahead of the forthcoming general election in the country proposed single tenure of sixteen years for presidency, governorship and other elective positions in the country.

Eze,  the senate committee chairman on Information and National Orientation  emphasized that this single tenure of 16yrs will afford all leaders in elective positions to complete all projects, implement all policies and programs, and ensure that there is no abandon projects in the country.

“If you ask me, I will propose for one single tenure of 16yrs for elective positions, so that the man in power will do his bit, draw a policy and get them completed.

“The problem we have is that everybody is in a haste to touch every sector, settle everybody that helped him during campaigns, and other areas, and before you know it, he will be talking of reelection.

“Sometime, he will not do much but if it is a single tenure of 16yrs, he will be able to complete all projects, programs and policies he started.

The senate committee chairman on information, Eze, made this known while speaking with newsmen in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State.

In a related development, Eze said that the tenth national Assembly never rejected electronic voting, contrary to the claims by politicians in the opposition parties.

He added that the real-time electronic voting, as popularly demanded by segments of the Nigerian public, remains impracticable, given the country’s current infrastructural realities.

The senator noted that the recent reforms on electronic transmission of electoral results underwent a rigorous legislative process, including public hearings, retreats, and consultations with civil society and international organizations, to ensure credibility, transparency, and implementability.

“The idea that votes can be transmitted in real-time directly from polling units misunderstands the technical realities on the ground.

“Real-time implies that as a voter touches an electronic ballot, the vote is transmitted instantly to a central server without any intermediary. With the current analog-ballot-based system and unstable power infrastructure, this is simply not feasible,” Eze said.

The lawmaker explained that electronic transmission of results from polling units has been misunderstood by many, with some critics erroneously assuming that the system could instantly reflect votes in real time. 

According to him, the process in Nigeria involves collecting, counting, and recording votes at the polling unit before transmission, a sequence that inherently involves time.

Eze, emphasized that the Senate did not reject electronic transmission. “At no point did the National Assembly reject electronic transmission. We have always supported it, but it must be implemented in a practical and sustainable way. 

“The focus is on ensuring votes are accurately recorded and transmitted, even if that means using backup manual systems where necessary,” he clarified.

He cited infrastructural limitations as a significant factor. “During the last election, INEC supplied generators to collection centers, but not to individual polling units. Machines arrived uncharged, and without reliable power or connectivity, expecting real-time transmission is unrealistic.”

The Senator, further stressed that the reforms also address other systemic issues, including the integrity of primary elections, the powers of political parties versus the electorate, and the adjudication of electoral disputes. 

He said that under the new framework, federal courts, rather than state courts, will handle primary election disputes, and accreditation through BIVAS technology will ensure that votes cannot exceed registered participants at polling units, minimizing opportunities for manipulation.

Senator Eze urged Nigerians to appreciate the complexities involved in implementing electronic voting systems.

 “We must recognize the realities of our national infrastructure. Laws must be practical, implementable, and sustainable; anything less risks disenfranchisement and public disillusionment,” he stressed.