The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday clarified that there cannot be any electronic voting in Nigeria until the 1999 Constitution as amended is further amended to authorise it.

“What the policy says under “ICT and Voter Registration” (Roman figure v – page 12) is that INEC will pilot the use of electronic voting at the earliest possible time (not Edo and Ondo), but work towards the full introduction of electronic voting in major elections starting from 2021.

“The key words here are pilot, work and towards,” he stated.

He said these connoted a different meaning from the headlines in some media reports yesterday.

A section of the media while reporting the release of guidelines for the Edo and Ondo States’ governorship elections later this year, had said INEC would test run electronic voting for election in 2021.

“As we all know, INEC cannot unilaterally introduce electronic voting because our constitution does not allow/recognise it. That’s why we said we will work towards the full introduction of e-voting,” he added.

The commission said it was unfortunate that some newspapers gave a different interpretation to the particular aspect of the guidelines.

Also, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Public Information, Mr. Festus Okoye, told THISDAY that the COVID-19 pandemic had increased the cost of elections and reduced government revenues.

He said: “No doubt, this pandemic has increased the cost of conducting elections. There are additional costs in terms of responsibilities. During elections, a coaster bus carries up to 40 electoral personnel, but now it has to reduce to seven and this is an additional financial burden. We have to provide protective equipment to election staff and hand sanitisers as well as facial masks. All these mean extra funding.

“But much as we recognise that there is extra funding, we are going to use electronics services; this will reduce some costs. National commissioners go for electoral duties by air; this time around, they may use electronic devices to do some of the works.

“Doing the works electronically could reduce the high cost of the elections. Like in the proposed meetings with stakeholders, the commission could conduct some of the scheduled activities electronically and this would reduce the expected cost of the election.

Sammy07:
Haaaa.
Will our politicians allow the constitution to be amended?

ojun50:

Not this set of criminals and the ones coming

Sammy07:


True, when they know that it won't favour them.

Theyve seen that the judiciary and state house of assemblies, LG has been granted autonomy.

They know, the state house of assemblies can remove the governors now if they're not careful.

This one, I'm sure they won't amend it, cos it won't favor them.

darfay:




Lagos ibadan expressway analysis

Cyberterror:
If electronic voting is allowed, PDP won't be wasting their time buying votes again. They will just budget money for hackers from Kenya and Dubai.

Sammy07:


Uun yi agbalagba ri n’oiho joko, omoiton le ri un n’oiho uduo.

engineerboat:
Changing gear again

darfay:



I'm not serious

Oh! Okay

Afamed:

How do they change the gear? Do you place something on nothing? Or that you fail to know the elementary electoral requirements/ law?

Afamed:

How do they change the gear? Do you place something on nothing? Or that you fail to know the elementary electoral requirements/ law?

engineerboat:


Pack one side and let those who have something reasonable to talk.

engineerboat:
Changing gear again

Afamed:
You can't put something on nothing. INEC said it from the constitutional and electoral views.
Only Atiku won from the electronic www.factdontlie voting and INEC server from Dubai a year ago.

engineerboat:



You have nothing to say than saying thrash all about.

You will dey alright Las las