Electoral Act Amendment: Senate Advocates Compulsory Electronic Result Transmission

The Nigerian Senate is preparing to revise the 2022 Electoral Act with significant amendments…CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The proposed changes will include mandating the electronic transmission of election results, allowing the uploading of polling unit-level results and result sheets utilized at various levels of result collation, and introducing diaspora voting, primarily for presidential elections.

A communiqué issued by the Senate at the conclusion of its retreat in Akwa-Ibom State in Ikot Ekpene detailed these proposed amendments.

The Senate highlighted the importance of restructuring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness in preparing and conducting elections.

The communiqué outlined the following key points:

1. Addressing the ambiguity in Section 64 of the EA22 regarding the use of technology in elections.
2. Making electronic result transmission mandatory starting from the general elections in 2027, along with uploading polling unit-level results and collation result sheets.
3. Introducing diaspora voting, especially for presidential elections, allowing citizens abroad, including essential service personnel and embassy staff, to cast their votes.
4. Imposing penalties on political parties that fail to submit their party member registers no later than 30 days before party primaries, congresses, or conventions, as stipulated in Section 77(3) EA22. This provision was breached by political parties in the 2023 elections without consequences.

Additionally, the Senate acknowledged the need to create a comprehensive national security strategy that outlines the nation’s security goals, threats, and policy priorities. This strategy would serve as a framework for legislative action in the security sector.