Agency Report
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday, May 25; says it will “work towards the full introduction of electronic voting in major elections starting from 2021.”
INEC further lamented the rising cost of elections in the country; saying it would be liaising with the National Assembly to see how political parties can nominate replacements for dead representatives.
This is in line with a Supreme Court judgment that votes belong to the parties and not individuals.
INEC disclosed this in a 17-page document released Monday in Abuja which was tagged; “Policy on Conducting Elections in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic”, and signed by its Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
Yakubu wrote that the electoral umpire will trial the use of e-voting machines at the earliest possible time; after the forthcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
The commission will also “work towards the full introduction of electronic voting in major elections starting from 2021.”
While the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC said it would study the policy to come up with an appropriate reaction, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Chief Mike Ahamba said while the policy on bye-elections could reduce costs, it could, however, assume a dangerous dimension if not well handled.
A former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah however voted against it, saying that the development could create vagabonds in power.
“The Commission will engage with the legislature and other stakeholders to explore ways of responding to the rising cost of conducting frequent bye-elections, especially in consideration of the Supreme Court position that votes belong primarily to political parties, as well as the Commission’s records; which show that only in 10% of all bye-elections since 2015 did the party that won originally lose the election.
“The Commission will engage relevant authorities, including the legislature, to designate election as an essential service to enable the Commission function effectively in times of national emergency”, INEC said in the policy document.