The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has lauded the Senate for reversing its earlier position not to allow the use of electronic voting and transmission of result in the coming elections in the country.
CAN’s General Secretary Joseph Daramola made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
According to the statement, the Senate has rescinded its decision on some clauses in the Electoral Amendment Bill that was passed in July.
It specifically mentioned clause 52 which deals with the methods of voting and collation of results in an election.
“The Upper Chamber has amended the clause to let the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), determine the use of electronic voting and transfer of results.
“We recall the uproar and the controversy that the July decision generated and we commend the leadership of the Senate for being sensitive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
“That is the beauty of democracy. The more the government does this, the better for our nation,’’CAN said.
In the statement CAN called on the House of Representatives to follow this path of honour by rescinding its own decision too.
It called on President Muhammadu Buhari to do the needful by signing the amendment bill into law as soon as he received it.
The association, however, called on the two chambers to let political parties decide how their candidates would emerge instead of imposing Direct Primaries on them.
“We appeal to INEC, the Federal government, the security agencies, political parties and the Non-Governmental Organisations to work together to ensure credible, free and fair polls in the country.
“The situation where courts decide those occupying our political offices is totally unacceptable, reprehensible and disheartening.
“If by now our democracy is still a baby, Nigeria will not be regarded as a serious country in the comity of nations,” the association said.
NAN
