The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised to assist Benin Electoral Commission to develop its information technology system for e-ting to ensure hitch-free electoral process.
Prof. Mohmoud Yakubu, Chairman INEC gave this assurance while receiving a delegation of Benin Electoral Commission led by Dr Oyedipo Falaye, the Beninoise Ambassador to Nigeria, ahead of the country’s forthcoming general elections scheduled to begin February, 28, this year.
Many Nigerians and international observers has applauded INEC for the success of the 2015 general elections which they believe was principally due to the use of biometric voters’ card and card readers introduced by the electoral umpire, INEC.
“The challenges that made the 2015 election a success was IT, beginning with voters’ registration, collation and transmission of results”, Yakubu told the delegation.
He however appealed to the delegates to treat the issue of security with utmost importance underscoring its importance for free and fair elections.
According to Yakubu, “INEC succeeded in formulating the security system. We have inter-agency committee on security, both at national and down to local government level. There are representatives of Army, the police, and other security agencies, and the security meeting is held on a regular basis. There is no free and fair election where there is insecurity.”
INEC promised to share the experiences and ideas that enabled it to succeed in the last general elections with members of Benin Republic Electoral Commission.
Dr Falaye in his submission called for cooperation and capacity building between the two commissions.
