Indirect primaries: INEC can deliver pending smooth transmission by NCC – SENATE

BY PRINCELY ONYENWE, IMO

A few hours ago, the Senate has approved the electronic transmission of Elections in NIGERIA henceforth.

But the effectiveness of this bill will be dependent on the ability of the Nigerian Communications Commission NCC to deliver smooth transmission of Election results as expected.

This indeed will usher in a new level of upgrade in the NIGERIAN administration.

Having given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the sole power to determine the mode of transmission of results during elections, Nigerians are happy for the approval of electronic transmission otherwise known as indirect primaries.

This followed the reversal, on Tuesday, of the Senate’s earlier decision that INEC may consider the electronic transmission of results “provided national [network] coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure” by the Nigerian Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly.

Under a new amendment of Clause 52 (2) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the Senate resolved that “voting at an election and transmission of results under this Bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Commission, which may include electronic voting”.

Presenting a motion for the changes before the Senate, Majority Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, said after a critical examination of the Bill by the Senate Committee on INEC, some fundamental issues were observed which required fresh legislative action. He listed the clauses that required action as 43,52,62,87.

Section 87 deals with the method of primaries to be adopted by political parties.

The Senate had earlier adopted during the amendment of the electoral act that parties should adopt either direct or indirect primaries.

However, based on the observation by its INEC Committee, the lawmakers supported direct primaries while some others did not.

After a long debate, the majority of lawmakers voted in favour of direct primaries and it was adopted by the Senate.

Earlier, Senator Adeyemi has stated that indirect primaries are better for the country because the majority of party members are illiterate and they will need enlightenment if they are going to be asked to come out and vote.

He added that indirect primaries are cheaper to conduct and INEC can deliver pending the assurance of the steady supply of power and smooth transmission by
the Nigerian Communications Commission NCC.

9News Nigeria (Owerri)
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