Senate has finally bowed to pressure due to public outcry on electronic transmission of results, rescinding it’s earlier decision. The Senate had in July passed the Electoral Act Amendment bill with provisions which allowed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to transmit election results electronically after getting green light on network coverage from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and approval from the National Assembly.
The bill, as passed by the House of Representatives, gives INEC the sole power to transmit results of elections by electronic means “where and when practicable”, after which the Senate rained in the eye of the storm.
The Senate passed a new bill which amended some clauses in the Electoral bill, which included sections 52 and 87 on electronic transmission of results and nomination of candidates by political parties. The bill is titled: “Recommittal of Amended Clauses of a Bill for an Act to repeal the Electoral Bill, 2021 and Enact the Electoral Act, 2021”. The controversial clause 52(3) is now amended to 52(2), which reads: “Subject to section 63 of this Bill, voting at an election and transmission of results under this Bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Commission (INEC), which may include electronic voting.”
On nomination of candidates by political parties, the Senate had earlier passed clause 87(1), which gave political parties options to hold either direct or indirect method of conducting primaries. The clause is now amended to read: “A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Bill shall hold direct primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which shall be monitored by the Commission”.
Nigeria Star News 