…INEC to determine mode of transmission of election results
…Retains direct primaries for political parties
The Senate on Tuesday passed the harmonized version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021 empowering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under Clause 63 of the new law to determine the procedure for voting and transmission of results during elections.
The passage followed the consideration of the report of the Conference Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on the bill.
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, had on October 13, 2021, constituted a seven-man conference committee to meet with their counterparts in the House to harmonize the differences in the Senate and House versions of the bill.
The Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, who chaired the Conference Committee in the Senate, presented the report on the harmonized version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
In his presentation, he said the bill when passed by the National Assembly, and subsequently assented into law by the President, would regulate the conduct of Federal, State and Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory Elections.
Abdullahi said that the Conference Committee at its retreat, considered and adopted 21 clauses in the bill, adding that it is imperative to point out that with the successful harmonization of the bill, a process that started from the 7th Assembly through to the 8th National Assembly has now been completed by the 9th National Assembly.
He further said; “The bill is now ready for passage and Presidential assent. I am happy to state that most of what we call “citizens top priorities” on the Electoral Act Amendment, including the use of technology have been addressed by the Electoral Bill, 2021”.
The Senate on October 13, 2021, re-amended certain aspects of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill contained in Clauses 43, 52, 63 and 87, respectively.
The re-amendment to the clauses was duly carried out amid a motion for re-committal sponsored by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi.
While adopting the conference committee report on Tuesday, the Senate approved the re-amended clauses to provide for direct primaries for aspirants to all elective positions.
It specifically empowered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under Clause 63 to determine the procedure for voting and transmission of results during an election.
