Festus Okoye’s Failure to Clarify Glitch in Presidential Election Result Upload Raises Concerns
In the realm where words with evasion, Festus Okoye, the spokesperson for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), finds himself entangled in a web of explanations—or rather, the lack thereof. The glitch that halted the upload of the presidential election result on the IREV portal remains an enigma, as Okoye fails to provide a satisfactory account of its origins.
In an interview on the esteemed Channels Television, Okoye not only sidesteps the question but also poses a puzzling inquiry of his own. With a hint of incredulity, he wonders why opposition parties are placing their trust in the results posted on IREV rather than relying on their own agents. The very institution tasked with safeguarding the electoral process, stumbling upon its own technological stumbling block.
One cannot help but chuckle at Okoye’s audacity as he dismisses claims that taxpayers’ money was squandered during the election. According to him, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) worked like a charm, flawlessly accrediting voters and facilitating the upload of results. But alas, the glitch, that elusive glitch, renders his words hollow and his defense feeble.
“It is not fair,” he proclaims, “to judge the entire performance of the commission based on a glitch.” If only life were so forgiving, allowing us to dismiss our missteps with a mere wave of our hand. In the realm of electoral processes, glitches carry weight, casting doubt and leaving room for skepticism to flourish.
When pressed further to shed light on the mysterious glitch, Okoye retreats with a flourish, declaring his lack of technological prowess. “I am but a humble servant of the commission,” he seems to imply, “technology is not my domain.”
How convenient, to cloak oneself in the veil of ignorance when faced with inconvenient questions. It is akin to a captain abandoning the ship when the tempest rages, leaving the bewildered passengers to fend for themselves.
As the audience, we cannot help but raise an eyebrow at Okoye’s display of negligence. His inability to explain the glitch is both amusing and disconcerting, for it exposes the fragility of our electoral processes and raises questions about the competence and integrity of those tasked with safeguarding our democracy.
Let us not dance around the issue any longer. It is time to shed the mask of evasion and confront the truth head-on. The people deserve answers, not empty words and deflections. Will he rise to the occasion and deliver a performance worthy of our trust, or will he continue to stumble in the face of scrutiny? The choice is his to make.
