By Fatima Saka
Opposition lawmakers in the Senate, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, on Thursday moved to clear the air over the Electoral Act amendment bill passed by the upper chamber, insisting that the legislation retains provisions for electronic transmission of election results and does not roll back gains made under the 2022 Electoral Act.
Briefing journalists at the National Assembly, Abaribe said opposition senators found it necessary to address the public after what he described as widespread misinterpretation of proceedings during Wednesday’s plenary.
He stressed that the Senate “did not, and has not, passed transfer of results,” explaining that what was approved was transmission of results, a distinction he said was crucial to safeguarding electoral transparency.
According to Abaribe, opposition senators, like their colleagues across party lines, were conscious of the public trust placed in them by Nigerians and would not act in a manner that undermines democratic credibility.
He noted that the amendment process followed a rigorous and inclusive path, involving a joint committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives, INEC, and civil society organisations.
He explained that the joint committee held several retreats in Abuja and other locations, where all stakeholders agreed that electronic transmission of results was the best option. This agreement, he said, was captured in the reports submitted and adopted by both chambers of the National Assembly.
Abaribe further disclosed that after the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters presented its report, the chamber constituted an ad hoc committee to review it. The ad hoc committee, he said, reaffirmed provisions in Section 63 of the bill, which allows for real-time electronic transmission of election results.
He acknowledged that confusion arose during plenary due to activity on the floor of the chamber, prompting some senators to seek clarification afterward. However, he said the Senate President later confirmed that the Senate had indeed passed electronic transmission of results.
On the legislative process going forward, Abaribe said a harmonisation committee had been set up to reconcile differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill. He clarified, however, that the Senate must first adopt its Votes and Proceedings before harmonisation can commence.
READ ALSO: NAN Remains Strategic Partner in Disaster Management – LASEMA PS
“The document for harmonisation must be the one passed and ratified by the Senate. When that is done, we will ensure that electronic transmission is clearly reflected,” he said.
He added that during harmonisation, lawmakers would either adopt the House or Senate version to produce a single bill for transmission to the President for assent, assuring Nigerians that the opposition would continue to defend electoral reforms and democratic accountability.
About The Author
