The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of over 70 organisations has insisted that the power to determine the procedure for transmission of election results should be conferred with the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.
Convener of the group Ene Obi told a news conference in Abuja that the insistence became imperative because INEC had proven that it could conduct electronic elections. She noted that situation Room and the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, the implementing partners have called on the National Assembly to show selflessness in decision-making.
The Convener of the also said INEC’ had shown that it had adequate capacity to apply technology in elections, including the transmission of results. She added that the capacity had been proven during off-cycle elections and through INEC’s use of the Z-pad and more recently the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.
Another member of Situation Room, Cynthia Mbamalu emphasised that the group recommended the adoption of the Senate’s version of Clause 43, which recognised that INEC could use voting devices alongside election materials. She also called on the harmonisation committee to adopt the Senate’s version of Clause 49, which recognises the use of other technological devices alongside smartcard readers for voter accreditation.
