The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will deploy technology in coming elections in Nigeria.
The Senate had approved electronic voting and moved to legalise the existing electronic voter accreditation system.
The National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Thursday when he led the management team of the electoral umpire in a visit to the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, in Abuja.
Yakubu stated that all the issues with deployment of the technology in elections had now been addressed.
“So, INEC has the free hand to fully employ appropriate technology in the conduct of our elections. This is all the more remarkable because the deployment of technology helped the 2015 general elections and I want to assure you that we are going to deepen the use of technology in the conduct of elections.
“Next, we are working on the basis of a very clear plan. What helped the 2015 general elections was the existence of a very clear strategic plan that covered the last electoral cycle. That strategic plan expired last year and last year we began work on the new strategic plan to cover the next electoral cycle. It is a five-year plan covering the period 2017-2021.
“Gone are the days when elections are conducted on ad hoc, quick fix basis. There have to be very clear processes.”