Politics 2019 Elections: Senators Make 7 Key Changes to Nigeria's Voting System

[LequteMan]

The Nigerian senate on Thursday made some amendments to the Electoral Act bill 2015 as the 2019 elections draw nearer.

Here are some of the changes passed at the upper chamber:

• INEC can now use an electronic voting (e-vote) system for conduct and collation of election results

• INEC's card readers have been approved and legalized for voters' accreditation

• INEC can also modify the voting process as they deem fit, especially if there's any challenge

• Sales of forms for presidency candidacy by parties has been capped at N10m (at most N10m). Formerly there was no cap and parties demanded exorbitant fees from candidates. For an LGA Chairman - N150k cap, State house of assembly - N250k cap, Federal house of assembly - N500k cap, Governorship - N5m cap, Presidency - N10m cap.

• A law was also passed to escape situations such as that experienced in Kogi with Audu's death. “If after the commencement of poll and before the announcement of the final result and declaration of a winner, a nominated candidate dies, (a) the Commission shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, suspend the election for a period not exceeding 21 days;

• A 5-year jail term or N5, 000,000.00 fine or both await INEC officials found to be members of a political party.

• The Act also limits the powers of the courts to stop the conduct of political party primaries for elections.

The bill will be transferred to the House of Representatives for concurrence.