October 12, (THEWILL) – The senate on Tuesday reconsidered the Electoral Act and empowered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to decide on the best mode to transmit election results.
This decision comes on the heels of criticisms attending the commission’s electronic transmission of results.
The upper legislative chamber also approved the mandatory use of the direct primary mode in picking candidates for political parties.
The senate had earlier empowered the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to determine the electronic transmission of election results, a decision many Nigerians and even the INEC condemned.
While moving a motion to rescind the earlier decision of the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday, Senator Yahaya Abdullah said there is a need to make “necessary amendments” to the bill.
“After critical examination of the bill by the senate committee on INEC, some fundamental issues which requires fresh legislative action on the following clauses 43, 52, 63 and 87 were observed.
“Desirous of the need to address the observations by the committee and make necessary amendments; and relying on order 1(b) and 53(b) of the senate standing order”, he said.
On the direct primaries by political parties, senate minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, said parties should be allowed to use whatever mode of primary election that suits them.
“The original situation was that the party was left with choices to determine what suits them.
“Not all parties have capacity to do direct primaries. I think we may have to leave it open”, he said.
On his part, Opeyemi Bamidele, senator representing Ekiti central, said the provision for compulsory use of direct primary mode for political parties will ensure that every member of a political party participates in the process.
“With respect to conduct of primaries, this is to ensure that every party member participates in the process. It is a way of giving power back to the people,” he said.
The senate approved four clauses in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill after Senate President Ahmad Lawan put them to voice votes.
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