Senate To Give Legal Backing For Compulsory Use Of Card Readers For Accreditation In Future Elections

Harboursandport.com: Abuja - The Senate has commenced moves to amend the Electoral Act to provide legal backing to the use of card readers for future elections in Nigeria.

According to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021( SB. 680) sponsored by Senator Ajibola Basiru, All Progressives Congress, APC, Osun Central, was read for the first time in Senate Wednesday 21, 2021. 

The bill also makes it compulsory for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to make available to a political party or candidates in any election, upon request, the details of the number of accredited voters for the election on both the card reader and voters register used for the election.

According to Senator Basiru who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, the bill seeks to amend the Electoral Act by altering the period for accreditation and voting as well as providing for the compulsory use of card readers for accreditation.

He said, "Amongst other provisions, the Bill makes provision for separate periods for accreditation and voting, with the further provision that accreditation commences by 8:00AM and closes by 1:00PM. 

"By the provisions of the proposed. amendments, voting commences immediately after accreditation; however, this is without prejudice to the fact that all voters who are already on the queue by 1:00 pm shall be accredited.

"In the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act, the accreditation process shall comprise of the verification of voters using the Card Reader and Register of Voters. 

"Furthermore, the bill provides that where the votes cast at an election in any polling unit exceeds the number of accredited voters on the voters register and card reader in any polling unit, the result of the election in that polling unit shall be declared void and another election conducted where the result at that polling unit may affect the overall result in the Constituency. 

"This a major innovation that provides legal backing to the use of card for elections in Nigeria.

The bill also makes it compulsory for INEC to make available to a political party or candidates in any election, upon request, the details of the number of accredited voters for the election on both the card reader and voters register used for the election.