Nigeria Senate Rescinds Decision, Allows INEC To Decide On E-Transmission Of Results

The Nigerian Senate has finally allowed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), decide on the use of electronic transmission of electoral results after months of bashings from aggrieved Nigerians. ayokinews.com reports

The Senate had earlier in July passed the Electoral Act Amendment bill with provisions allowing INEC to transmit election results electronically immediately after getting the green light on network coverage from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Assembly approval.

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The Electoral Act Amendment bill passed by the Nigerian House of Representative vested the power to electronically transmit election results on INEC.

Ever since the lower chamber’s decision, the Senate has been in the eye of the storm which made it to rescind its earlier decision.

The two legislative chambers further set up conference Committee to harmonize the unclear areas of the bill.

Meanwhile, the committee is set to meet this week.

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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 parties, the Senate had earlier passed clause 87(1), which allows parties 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”.

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