The Nigerian Senate yesterday resolved to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to commence electronic voting when it feels it has the appropriate capacity and technology to commence the system.
The lawmakers said they are refraining from legislating on electronic voting for now, but will work on providing INEC with all it requires.
“I was at a recent public event with the INEC chairman, Professor Atahiru Jega, where the chairman stated clearly that INEC was not ready and indeed does not have all it takes to conduct electronic voting in the country for now,” senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said.
“Let’s give INEC what it says it needs to be able to conduct a credible election and not something it cannot handle.”
These were part of resolutions reached while considering three different bills on the amendment to the Electoral Act 2010 that passed its second reading in the house.
The bills were sponsored by senators Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West), Abu Ibrahim (Katsina South) and Alkali Jajere (Yobe South).
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