A Bill to amend the Electoral Act 2010 and to make provision for electronic voting and direct transmission of results from polling units to a Central Database was on Wednesday read for the second time in the Senate.

The Bill titled: “A Bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act (NO. 6), 2010 and for other related matters, 2019” is sponsored by Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and co-sponsored by Senator Abubakar Kyari (Borno North).

Omo-Agege, in his lead debate, said the Bill is “a response in part to a plethora of Supreme Court decisions directly or indirectly calling upon the National Assembly to act pointing out that” the apex Court has persistently done this regarding INECs introduction of modern technologies into the electoral process, especially accreditation of voters.”

He said that the Bill “seeks to ensure that the Act clearly forbids members of political parties from taking up employment in INEC, mandate INEC to publish the Voters Register for public scrutiny at every Registration Area and on its website at least seven days before a general election; mandate INEC to suspend an election in order to allow a political party that lost its candidate before or during an election to conduct a fresh primary to elect a replacement or new candidate.”

He added that the Bill mandates the INEC “to accommodate new technologies in the accreditation of voters during elections, as repeatedly called for by the Supreme Court; define over-voting to include situations where total votes cast also exceed total number of accredited voters; provide greater clarity and transparency in the process of reaching the final announcement of election results, starting with sorting of ballots, counting of votes, etc;”

Omo-Agege explained that “the amendment mandates INEC to record and keep relevant detailed information of results sheets, ballot papers and other sensitive electoral materials used in an election, with clear consequences for violation; enact a new Section 87 on Nomination of Candidates by Parties for Elections by prescribing maximum fees payable by aspirants and restricting nomination criteria strictly to relevant provisions of the Constitution.

“In compliance with Order 77(3) of our Standing Rules, I state that this Bill has no financial implications. Accordingly, there is no accompanying financial compendium. For the greater good of this great Republic, I hereby humbly move for the Second Reading of this Bill to be taken.”

Following the conclusion of debates on the general principle of the bill, it has been referred to the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with a directive to report back within four weeks.