A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has reacted to the 9th Senate’s passage of the conditional electronic transmission of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in future elections in the country,
Recall, that the Senate on Thursday, passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021, during which it also stripped INEC of the exclusive power to decide whether or not to transmit election results electronically.
Speaking on the development, Prof. Jega said that the Lawmakers’ action will undermine the independence of INEC, as well as Nigeria’s democracy.
His words: “This is a senseless, if not crazy amendment.
“It would undermine the independence of INEC. How can you make the decision of INEC subject to confirmation, concurrence or approval of NCC, a body under the Presidency? And what has the National Assembly, a Legislative body got to do with an Executive decision of INEC?
“Rather than grappling at the straws, the Senators should just do the right thing, and allow INEC the discretion to introduce electronic voting and electronic transmission of results when appropriate.”
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