NBA urges INEC to introduce e-voting machine

The Electoral Working Group of the Nigerian Bar Association has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to introduce electronic voting machine to enhance the credibility of future elections.

The NBA said this in a statement issued by the Chairman, Election Working Group, Mr. Dafe Akpedeye, in Osogbo, on Sunday.

The group said INEC said it had the capacity to use the EVM, it should deploy it in future elections.

The group said, “INEC should move towards the use of Electronic Voting Machines for elections, as it has indicated that it has the capacity to use such process, which it used to collate results in the collating centres.

“INEC needs to deploy adequate officials in each polling unit for future elections.”

The NBA urged stakeholders, especially political parties, to carry out more effective civic education to increase the electorate’s involvement in future elections.

The NBA, however, said in comparison with the last governorship elections in Anambra and Ekiti, INEC had improved in its deployment of electoral materials and officials to polling units.

The group also called for the amendment of the Electoral Act to give Presiding Officers the discretion to create a separate queue for the elderly. They stated that some elderly citizens found it difficult coping with youths in the queues during the accreditation and voting.