Anambra: CNPP rejects calls for electronic voting

LAGOS —THE CNPP has disagreed with calls for the National Assembly to urgently legislate on the use of electronic voting by INEC for the conduct of the Anambra State gubernatorial election in 2010.

The Chairman, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, Chief Maxi Okwu, told  newsmen at the weekend that using the method for the election would be counter productive.

“There is no time left for that with less than two months to the election. To effectively use the machine, INEC needs time to educate the voters on the use of the e-voting machine,’’ Okwu argued.

He, however, said that the use of the machine was a welcome development but stressed that it must be programmed, sourced and arranged carefully to achieve the desired results.

The CNPP Chairman added that for proper deployment of the machine, INEC should start now to seek legislation on it.

National Action Council, NAC, Chairman, Dr Olapade Agoro, said that the e-voting machine remained the best option for Nigeria.

Agoro said that there was need for the National Assembly to give legal authority to INEC to use the machine for the election.

“The use of the machine would go a long way in curbing rigging and other electoral malpractices associated with elections in Nigeria. Anambra governorship polls would determine what Nigerians are to expect in 2011 and if INEC gets it right, it will help curb the apathy towards voting in Nigeria,’’ he said.

INEC before the 2007 general elections said it would seek an amendment to the electoral laws to allow it use the machine for future elections.

The electronic voting system makes it mandatory for a voter to be registered, have voter’s card with a photograph and be physically present at the polling centre to cast a ballot.

The Commission in a proposal to the National Assembly sought for the adoption of electronic voting as a means of checking electoral fraud in Nigeria.