The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed plans to introduce electronic voting during the governorship election holding in Anambra State in 2021 as a litmus test for electronic voting in Nigeria. Chairman of the commission, Yakubu Mahmood made the disclosure during a budget defence session with the House of Representatives committee on INEC. The Chairman further stated that they are looking at better ways to conduct free and fair elections in the country. “I, however, urge the Senate to approve the spending of N5.2 billion from the special INEC fund to make up for the shortfall in the 2020 budget which was reduced due to the Coronavirus pandemic,” Mahmood said.
Mr. Mahmood, while reacting to questions from journalists after the session, said while INEC has yet to know what e-voting would cost, the commission was ready to make the electoral system electronic.
“It is difficult to give you an idea of cost or when the process would be concluded, but we are determined that we are going to deploy electronic voting machines, electronic balloting machines very soon in our elections.
“Possibly beginning with the Anambra governorship election next year,” he said.
