E-Voting: Senators To Harmonize Electoral Act; Names Committee Members

By Ayodele Oni

Anti electronics transmission of election results Senators have been nominated as Committee members to resolve the contentious areas of the Electoral Act.

The seven-member Committee were unveiled on Wednesday by the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawal.

The Committee is headed by the Senate Leader, Abdullahi Yahaya.

The seven-member Conference Committee is expected to meet with the House of Representatives team to iron out the contentious aspects of the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill.

Other members of the Senate committee are: Kabiru Gaya (North-West), Ajibola Basiru (South-West), Danjuma Goje (North-East), Uche Ekwunife (South-East), Sani Musa (North-Central), and Mathew Urhoghide (South-South).

It was learnt that out of the seven Committee members, only one of them (Urhoghide) voted in support of the electronic transmission of results when there was a division on the issue.

Senator Ekwunife was not available to cast her vote while the remaining four voted against the electronic transmission of results until the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) got approval from the Nigerian Communication Commission and the National Assembly.

Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party,(PDP) Governors’ Forum and Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Tambuwal had last week put before the committee suggestions to make the electoral act acceptable to Nigerians.

He said on behalf of the PDP Governors’ Forum that a committee of both houses should come up with a Harmonized Version in the interest of Nigerians.

In a statement, the forum pointed out that the committee should be set up to harken to the wishes of Nigerians and be guided by national interest, particularly on the issue of electronic transmission of results.

The PDP governors warned that any further delay in passing and assenting to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill would do grievous and irreparable damage to preparations for the conduct of the 2023 elections in Nigeria.

The forum requested the proposed Senate and House of Representatives Conference Committee to adopt the House version of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill on the issue of electronic transmission.

“It should be noted that Section 52(2) of the House version says:

“Voting at an election and transmission of results under this Bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Commission.”

The forum recalled that Section 52 (2) of the Senate version provides that:

“Commission may consider electronic transmission of results provided that the national coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and approved by the National Assembly.”