Coalition tasks N’assembly on electronic balloting, others

COALITION for Constitutional and Electoral Reforms ( CCER) has urged the National Assembly to work on new legislation that captures electronic transmission of results and use of other forms of technology in the electoral process.

This was contained in a statement signed by leaders of Civil Society Organisations ( CSOS) in the coalition, including Centre for Liberty, NESSACTION, Millennials Active Citizenship Advocacy Africa, Raising New Voices, and Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement ( YIAGA) Africa.

The coalition pointed out that National Assembly members were bound by the constitution to act in the overall interest of Nigerians by adopting and passing new and salient provisions in the Electoral Bill.

“As the National Assembly resumes plenary for the 2021 legislative business, CCER wants the parliament to know that Nigerians will only welcome a new legislation that captures electronic transmission of results and legitimise the use of technology in the electoral process

“Nigerians seek an enduring electoral reform that will address the deficits in the electoral system viz provision for electronic transmission and publication of results, full biometrics for accreditation and the need for spending limits on nomination forms among other things,” the statement read in part.

The CSOS sent to the federal lawmakers “10 irreducible demands by Nigerians” to make the new electoral bill a people’s legislation.

“We reiterate our call for the quick passage of the Electoral Amendment Bill in the first quarter of 2021, as promised by the leadership of the National Assembly and the committee on electoral reforms.”