E-VOTING: INEC REFUTES PRINT MEDIA REPORTS.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, #INEC 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 #COVI1D-19 pandemic.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Chief Press Secretary to #INECChairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi said Once again, some of the headlines in today’s papers have missed it!
INEC did not say it will introduce electronic voting from 2021. What the policy says under “ICT and Voter Registration is that INEC will “PIlOT the use of Electronic Voting at the earliest possible time (not Edo and Ondo), but WORK TOWARDS the full introduction of electronic voting in major elections starting from 2021.”Mr #RotimiOyekanmi stressed that the key words here are “PILOT”, “WORK” and “TOWARDS”. These connote a different meaning from the headlines published by some newspapers.
Mr Oyekanmi further stressed that INEC cannot unilaterally introduce electronic voting, as the Nigerian Constitution does not allow or recognize it. That’s why INEC said we will “work towards” the full introduction of e-voting.
He therefore expressed disappointment that some newspapers gave a different interpretation to INEC’s policy document.