The followed the passage of the amendment bill of the Electoral Act 2010, following the controversies that were generated around the use of Smart Card Readers in the 2015 elections.
The amendment also provides for instant transmission of election results from polling units, through electronic data.
In the event of the death of a candidate, the amendment gives the Independent National Electoral Commission the power to suspend such election for twenty-one days.
During the period of the suspension, the affected party would be allowed to conduct a fresh primary within fourteen days to produce another flag bearer.
The Amendment Bill was sponsored a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator ABBA KYARI.
In his remarks; Senator KYARI noted that the Card Reader does not replace Voters’ Register but serves as a means of identifying voters.
Also speaking; the Senate President, BUKOLA SARAKI, expressed hope that the amendment would improve the use of technology, smart card issue and timely collation of results in future elections.
Senator SARAKI thanked his colleagues for a job well done, especially the Committee on INEC.
