Senate approves e-transmission of election results — all you need to know

Senate approves e-transmission of election results — all you need to know

Aishat Ibrahim

The Senate, on Tuesday, empowered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to determine procedure for the transmission of results during the general elections.

The upper house made the amendments on Tuesday, to some parts of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2021 which was passed on July 15, 2021.

Some fundamental issues which required new legislative actions were observed by the Senator Kabiru Gaya-led committee in the bill.

Consequently, the Senate in a motion for re-committal, re-amended some aspects of the bill contained in Section 43, 52, 63 and 87 of the Electoral Act.

In Clause 52 of the Electoral Act (Amendment) bill passed three months ago, the Red Chamber had approved that “INEC may consider the electronic transmission of results, provided the national coverage is declared to be adequate and secure by the National communications commission and approved by National Assembly.”

However, on Tuesday, the Senate amended the clause when the bill was subjected to re-committal to provide that “subject to Section of this bill, voting at an election and transmission of results under this bill shall be in accordance with the procedure decided by the commission.”

The upper house also amended Section 87 of the Act, to allow political parties to decide on the forms for holding primary election for aspirants to all elective positions.

Meanwhile, members of the Conference Committee on the Electoral Act (Amendment) bill 2021, are expected to meet their counterparts in the House of Representative to agree on the bill passed by both chamber.

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