COVID-19: INEC distances self from report of it starting E-voting in 2021

The Independent National Electoral Commission has described as erroneous, some print media headlines alluding to the fact that electronic voting will commence in Nigeria in 2021.

Some of the headlines read: “INEC Okays e-voting from 2021” and “INEC To Begin E-Voting With Anambra 2021 Guber Poll.”

The newspapers were reporting on the new policy framework published by the commission on Monday, regarding the conduct of elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi said some of the headlines in today’s papers have missed it.

According to him, INEC did not say it will introduce electronic voting from 2021.

Oyekanmi further stressed that INEC cannot unilaterally introduce electronic voting, as the Nigerian Constitution does not allow or recognize it.

He therefore expressed disappointment that some newspapers gave a different interpretation to INEC’s policy document.