The Senate has empowered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to determine whether to transmit election results, either electronically or manually.

This is even as the upper legislative chamber also approved direct primary mode in picking candidates by all political parties.

The senate approved four clauses in the electoral act amendment bill.

The senate leader, While moving a motion to rescind the earlier decision of the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday, said there is a need to make “necessary amendments” to the bill.

“After critical examination of the bill by the senate committee on INEC, some fundamental issues which requires fresh legislative action on the following clauses 43, 52, 63 and 87 were observed,” he said.

“Desirous of the need to address the observations by the committee and make necessary amendments; and relying on order 1(b) and 53(b) of the senate standing order.”

Contributing to the debate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, senate minority leader, said parties should be allowed to use whatever mode of primary election that suits them.

“Not all parties have capacity to do direct primaries. I think we may have to leave it open.”

Also speaking, Opeyemi Bamidele, senator representing Ekiti central, said the provision for compulsory use of direct primary mode for political parties will ensure that every member of a political party participates in the process.

“With respect to conduct of primaries, this is to ensure that every party member participates in the process,” Bamidele said.

The four clauses in the bill were approved by the senate in ” the committee of the whole” after Senate President Ahmad Lawan put them to voice votes.