Nigeria's National Assembly Passes Electoral Act Amendment Bill
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The Nigerian National Assembly has passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, introducing changes to election result transmission and notification timelines.
The Nigerian National Assembly has approved the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, introducing significant changes to the country's electoral process. The bill, passed after extensive deliberations, notably reduces the election notification period from 360 days to 300 days, providing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with greater flexibility in scheduling elections.
A key provision of the amendment addresses the electronic transmission of election results. While the bill mandates that presiding officers electronically transmit results from each polling unit to the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal, it includes a clause allowing manual collation if electronic transmission fails due to communication issues. This decision followed heated debates, with some lawmakers advocating for mandatory real-time electronic transmission to enhance transparency.
The passage of the bill was marked by contentious sessions in both legislative chambers. In the Senate, opposition members called for a formal division over Clause 60(3), leading to a tense atmosphere and a subsequent vote that upheld the provision for manual collation under specific circumstances. Similarly, in the House of Representatives, opposition lawmakers staged a walkout in protest against the inclusion of the manual collation clause, expressing concerns over potential election result manipulation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the senators for their dedication to democratic principles, acknowledging the courage displayed by those who voted against the proviso in Clause 60(3). He emphasized the importance of the amendments in ensuring smooth elections in 2027.
The bill also introduces provisions for direct primaries and consensus modes for selecting party candidates, aiming to enhance internal democracy within political parties.
Following the National Assembly's approval, the bill awaits presidential assent to become law, marking a pivotal step in Nigeria's ongoing efforts to reform its electoral system.
Source
The Nation NewspaperFact-checking
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