On Thursday 5th March, 2020, The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) unfolded plans to kick start electronic voting come 2023 general elections and the retreat ends on Friday 6th March, 2020 at Lagos.
Member, House of Representatives, representing Ibadan North-East/South East Federal Constituency, Hon. Abass Adigun(Agboworin) represented lower chamber of the National Assembly committee members on electoral matters and Sen. Teslim Folarin representing Oyo central senatorial district, represented the Upper chamber committee members, at the retreat which took place in Lagos.
INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, said should the Electoral Acting is amended, based on its proposals, the 2019 elections would be the last mainly manually conducted election.
Hon. Abass Adigun spoke in Lagos at the retreat, on the review of the Electoral Act on why can't political party be reduced to 2 or 5 party but was reply that we are practicing democracy system in Nigeria which allows the registration of many party that are qualified.
He said, INEC should be firmed about the voters registration yearly and not only when the election in fast approaching which leads to extension of date all the time. Registration should start yearly to make it easy for our youth's, women's, artisan's because we are here to make laws that we make life easy and better for them.
Hon. Abass Adigun gave note that INEC needs to make laws under the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the Commission’s regulations and guidelines which will regulate decampees most especially, those who won election through one political platform then move to another political party due to their own self interest or ambitions.
Prof. Yakubu also make noted that the retreat marked the first time that the Commission and National Assembly members came together to discuss issues relating to the electoral legal framework.
Among other crucial related matters discussed at the retreat were;
- Bill sought to amend many sections of the Electoral Act.
- Ranging from the neutrality of electoral officials to the compilation, display and storage of the voters’ register.
- Legal recognition for electronic accreditation of voters.
- Party primaries and the nomination of candidates for elective offices by political parties.
- Empower the Commission to deepen the deployment of technology in the management of the voters’ register, voting and result collation processes.
- A new definition of over-voting with emphasis on accredited voters rather than the number of registered voters in a polling unit.
“It is time for a new legislation to remove all encumbrances to further deployment of technology in the electoral process, especially in the accreditation of voters and transmission of election results.
Signed:
Director Of Communication For
Hon. Abass Agboworin
6th March, 2020.