Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege says the National Assembly will give legal backing to card reader in the new Electoral Act, to further enhance the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria.

He gave the assurance when he received the Nigerian Representatives of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council, (AU- ECOSOCC), led by Dr. Tunji Ashaolu in Abuja on Thursday.

A statement by his spokesperson, Yomi Odunga in Abuja, quoted Omo-Agege as saying that it was important the card reader be made part of the legal regime for elections. He said the senate maintained that card reader would ensure credible polls.

According to him, the mistake of the Eighth National Assembly is that the amendment of the Electoral Act breached ECOWAS Protocol, which will not be repeated.

“I am sure any minute from now, we are going to be coming up with a revised Electoral Reform Amendment Bill that will address issues that are very dear to us and issues that came to the fore in the 2019 elections, most especially revolving round the legality of the card reader.

“We know that there is no way you can have genuine, credible, free and fair elections in this country without addressing the issue of the card reader.

“Most of the litigations that arise from the 2015 and 2019 elections have always centred around the legality or otherwise of the card reader.

“The courts have made it very clear that as far as they are concerned, Section 49 of the Electoral Act is very clear that the only document recognised by law for purpose of accreditation is the voters register.

“To the extent that we believe that we want to introduce any innovation including but not limited to the card reader.

“We have to do the right thing, the right thing as far as we are concerned is for us to pass the law to make the card reader.

“We are hellbent on doing that, and we actually tried in the committee that I served on in the eighth senate but the leadership of the eighth senate delayed it and by the time it passed, it had run into challenges with the ECOWAS Protocol,” he said.

He, however, explained that contentious areas in the amendments made by the eighth National Assembly would be removed before the bill will be passed and sent to the President for assent. Omo-Agege, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District, also expressed the desire of the ninth senate to ensure that the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) was given accelerated approval.

He assured that the bill would have the buy-in of the executive arm of government to avoid the mistakes of the past.

He said: “This time around, it is the determination of the ninth senate that we are going to have this (PIGB) passed. Earlier, leader of the delegation, Dr. Tunji John Ashaolu, emphasized the need for Nigeria to take its rightful place in the African Union (AU).

He also called on the National Assembly to immediately revisit the Electoral Act
Amendment Bill, as well as the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).

Source: https://punchng.com/n-assembly-will-give-card-reader-legal-backing-omo-agege/amp/

That admin that banned me for fighting with his girlfriend...... Ati lo, Ati de
Am ready for more

Make e-voting legal, not ordinary card reader

Instead on electronic transmission! Yeye

How this man take become DSP

Ovoko

what about thuggery,hooliganism and acrimonious behaviour?

What is this one saying, I thought there is an amended electoral act permitting e-voting, which is presently on Mr. President's table.

What kind of confused leaders do we have in this country for goodness sake?

Was the use of card readers illegal before...wen you have dumb people as leaders you get dumb laws

Hmmmmm. Electoral laws to make them rig well.. If u know u know

Mmm...Omo Agege, one of the men that eventually saw the end of the Saraki era.
Meanwhile...
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Time will tell.

Okay.maybe

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MoIbrahim:
Make e-voting legal, not ordinary card reader

Use your head. E-voting won't work in a country without constant electricity. Even advanced countries in the west where there is constant electricity are skeptical of e-voting as it is fraught with dangers like hacking and system failure. They all use the good old reliable ballot paper.

It really gladdens my heart that an Urhobo man seats on the DSP throne, while Ibos are minority leaders.... afterall they always shout we the SE/SS people and doing atachee by force while they turn DSP seat to Ibo chieftancy title

..

Let it be assented to as it is. This further amendment seems like a gimmick

With or without transmitting results?

hmmmmm ok


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I'm sure it'd be frustrated by some of you cos if card readers were legal in the last polls, many of you including PMB wouldn't be in office by now



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clarocuzioo:
What is this one saying, I thought there is an amended electoral act permitting e-voting, which is presently on Mr. President's table.

What kind of confused leaders do we have in this country for goodness sake?

I keep asking the same question.

Buhari said it was late to implement it the last time.

I was thinking that the most reasonable thing to do is to prevail on him to do that or bypass him.

Who does not know that that this country is an expensive joke anyway?

Do it and do it fast NOW.
A better and good Nigeria is all we want.

Mr integrity refused to sign it into law after a lot of resources was expended, wasting our time registering for PVC. Buhari is Yahoo Yahoo scammer who successfully deceived Yoruba Muslims

Typical Nigerian politician.After benefiting from the electoral lapses,you have suddenly woken up to modern day reality?.Now is not late though if you are sincere about it.

Let's be vigilant and be sure they do want is said and that we are not surprised by the insertion of a tenure extension clause or 3rd term clause.
Just suspicious of this suddenly focus on the electoral law after the tribunal verdict

Rubbish rubbish rubbish and more garbage coming from the top...
The law is not obtainable anymore, not regarded nor kept.
Just bring in E-voting system, speed voting, speed counting.
That's all that will make sense.

N/B: Do you wonder why most government agencies still have paperwork for record instead of database, because it's very easy to manipulate....

okk