THESE amendments were made by the Senate, on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, to some clauses of the 2021 Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) bill passed on July 15, 2021.
The Upper Chamber explained that the decision to allow INEC the levity of choosing the procedures for transmissions of election results was reached after a critical examination by the Senate Committee on INEC.
Accordingly, the chamber in a motion for re-committal, re-amended certain aspects of the bill contained in Clauses 43, 52, 63 and 87, respectively.
The Senate, in Clause 52 of the earlier Electoral Act (Amendment), had approved that “the Commission (INEC) may consider the electronic transmission of results, provided the national coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by the National Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly.”
The Senate, has, however, amended the clause to provide that, “subject to section 63 of this bill, voting at an election and transmission of results under this bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Commission.”
The Senate also amended Clause 87 approving direct primaries for aspirants of all elective positions. What this amendment insinuates is; a member of a political party that holds the membership card of such party can now partake, directly, in choosing such party’s candidates at all levels of elections.
