Festus Okoye: INEC Ready to Conduct Elections and Transmit Results Electronically

 

After months of advocacy and lobbying, the Independent National Electoral Commission finally got the Senate to give it the legal backing to transmit election results electronically.

Earlier, the Senate had inserted a controversial clause in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill that subjected the electronic transmission of election results by INEC to the approval of the telecoms regulator and the National Assembly.

However, INEC and Nigerians kicked against the insertion of the clause on the grounds that it was unconstitutional, would erode the independence of INEC, and could comprise the electoral process.

Eventually, the Senate bowed to pressure on Tuesday by deleting the offensive clause and paved the way for INEC to determine the procedure for the transmission of election results.

With the bold step taken by the upper legislature, all eyes are now on President Muhammadu Buhari to give his assent to the bill after it has been harmonised at the National Assembly.

Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, joined thw Morning Show on Thursday to discuss the import of this for the country’s electoral process and the readiness of the commission to implement e-transmission of results nationwide.

Watch the interview…

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