N/Assembly c’ttee empowers INEC to decide on results’ e-transmission

the clause has been raising dusts among stakeholders,

The National Assembly committees on Independent National Electoral Commission has recommended an amendment to the Electoral Act, empowering the INEC to decide on electronic transmission of election results “where and when practicable”.

The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill seeks to amend dozens of clauses and introduce new ones to the Electoral Act 2010.

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Section 50 of the bill makes provision for the introduction of technology in the electoral process.

However, the clause has been raising dusts among stakeholders, including federal lawmakers.

While some believe Nigeria is not ripe for electronic voting and electronic transmission of results, others reason that the manual system encourages rigging and electoral malfeasance.

Both chambers of the National Assembly will today consider the committees’ report submitted yesterday.

In the bill sighted by our correspondent, the panel recommended in section 52(2) that “Voting at an election under this bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the commission, which may include electronic voting.”

It also recommended in Section 52(3) that “The commission may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable.”