The Independent National Electoral Commission has hinted that it will deploy to technology in coming elections in Nigeria, with the amendment of the amendment of the Electoral Act 2010.
The Senate had on Thursday passed the amendment of the Act, in which it approved electronic voting and moved to legalised the existing electronic voter accreditation system.
The National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Thursday when he led the management team of the electoral umpire in a visit to the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, in Abuja.
While describing the amendment as “the most technologically friendly amendment to the Electoral Act in the history of this country,” Yakubu stated that all the issues with deployment of the technology in elections had now been addressed.
“So, INEC has the free hand to fully employ appropriate technology in the conduct of our elections. This is all the more remarkable because the deployment of technology helped the 2015 general elections and I want to assure you that we are going to deepen the use of technology in the conduct of elections.
“Next, we are working on the basis of a very clear plan. What helped the 2015 general elections was the existence of a very clear strategic plan that covered the last electoral cycle. That strategic plan expired last year and last year we began work on the new strategic plan to cover the next electoral cycle. It is a five-year plan covering the period 2017-2021.
“Gone are the days when elections are conducted on ad hoc, quick fix basis. There has to be very clear processes.”
In his remarks, Saraki said the amendments made to the Electoral Act would better the conduct of elections in the country.
He said, “I believe that we have got a law passed by the Senate that lays a very good foundation; it is one that we can be proud of; it is one that encourages best practices in our electoral processes and elections.”
(Punch)
