2023: INEC Suspends E-Voting Machines Procurement (See Why)

Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the processes of the procurement of electronic voting machines.

Naija News reports that INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had announced last year that the commission had commenced processes of replacing manual voting with the electronic voting system.

He noted that the commission was also set to procure Electronic Voting System (EVS), the Electronic Voter Register (EVR), Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), Electronic Voter Authentication (EVA), and Electronic Transmission of Results (ETR).

He said INEC had invited manufacturers of electronic voting machines around the world to practically demonstrate how the machines worked preparatory to full migration.

However, speaking with Daily Trust on Thursday in Abuja, an INEC official said the commission suspended the processes of the procurement of the electronic machines over the delay in the passage of the Electoral Act amendment into law.

He noted that the commission could not do anything concerning the electronic transmission of results, which was rejected by the National Assembly.

“There is no problem; it is natural that the commission stays action on the procurement process of the machines. The commission as a law-abiding institution is waiting for the final amendment of the Electoral Act. This did not stop other activities relating to e-voting and others like the smart card readers and others like that,” he said.