Nigeria Elections : Senate Approves Electronic Transmission of Results

Nigerian Senate has bowed to public pressure and adopted the stance of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), to transmit election results electronically. The Senate’s adoption of electronic transmission of election results came after months of outrage and outright rejection that followed the passage of the 2021 Amended Electoral act earlier in July by Nigerians. Consequently, the Senate has now given INEC full powers to transmit election results electronically as voting under the bill shall now be in accordance with the procedure determined by the commission.
The Senators had earlier denied INEC the power to transmit results of elections electronically but rather empowered the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Assembly to determine the use of electronic transmission in an election. It is now left on the MPs in the lower chamber, House of Representatives to approve the law. Experts say transmitting election results electronically would make elections more transparent and accountable especially with the approach of the 2023 general election. They say the measure will put an end to fraudulent collation processes. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be empowered to determine the “best mode” in the transmission of election results, when the amendment is signed into law by the president.<...