* Concedes power to transmits Election Result to NCC,NASS
*Splits along party lines
By Ignatius Okorocha
There was uproar on the floor of the Senate on Thursday over the mode of transmission of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission on election day.
This was as the upper chamber passed the long awaited Electoral Act amendment to guide the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in the conduct of the nation’s future elections.
Trouble started when the upper chamber attempted to amend Clause 52 (3) of the new Electoral Act.
Senate Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters has recommended that INEC should reserve the power to transmit results by electronic means where applicable on the day of election.
However, Senator representing Niger North, Sabi Abdullahi said that the power to determine the practicability of electronic transmission should be saddled with the Nigerian Communications Commission with the approval of the National Assembly
Senate had began the clause-by clause consideration of the recommendations of Its Committee on INEC on Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021.
Section 52(3) of the bill had prescribed that INEC may adopt electronic voting and transmission of result processes or any other method of voting in any election it conducts as it may deem fit.
The section which provided for INEC to determine electronic process of voting was however amended to empower the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to determine the suitability of network to conduct electronic election processes with approval of the National Assembly.
The amendment was sought by Sen.Sabi Abdullahi(APC-Niger), while President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan passed the gravel in support of the amendment.
Sen.Bassey Akpan,(PDP Akwa-Ibom), however, called for an amendment to retain the initial recommendation of Section 53(3) on the bill that was amended arising from the adoption of Sen.Sabi’s amendment proposal.
Akpan’s call, however resulted into round of hearted verbal arguments amongst sentors.
The approval of Sen. Sabi’s amendment, however did not go down well with some senators, who were against the amendment to the section.
This, resulted in rowdy nature of the chamber as senators engaged in uncomplimentry exchange of words.
Senate President,Ahmad Lawan then called for a close session, which lasted for almost 10 mins, given the uncomplimentary verbal exchange of words amongst senators.
Sen.Enyinaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), after end of the closed session, called for division, having cited order 73, which allows senators to contest the ruling of President of Senate.
Senators,then took turn to vote “Yes or No” on the retention of the section for electionic voting process as ealier recommended on the bill.
At the end of the voting process, Senators who voted for the amendment to the section carried the day given the highest number.
The senators,who voted for Sen. Sabi’s option of amendment were 52 while that of Sen Akpan were 28 while 28 senators were absent.
Some of the senators, who voted against Sen.Akpan Bassey for retention of the ealier provision on the bill believed that Nigeria was not ripe for electronic voting and transmission of result.
The voting pattern clearly revealed that Senators of All Progressive Congress (APC)largely dominated by lawmakers from the Northern part of the country voted against the amendment by Sen Akpan while senators from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) largely from the Southern party of the country threw their weight to Akpan’s Amendment.
The section which was amended now empowers NCC and National Assembly to determine application of electronic voting and transmission of result during elections, as against the ealier provision,which empowered INEC to decide on electronic voting and transmission of election result at elections.
Meanwhile, spokesman of the Senate Senator Ajibola Basiru(APC Osun) while fielding questions on journalists said electronic transmission of election results can only be guaranteed in an area where the network is secured and adequate.
He said adoption of transmission of election result must be certified to be secured and adequate by science through the instrumentality of Nigeria Communication Commission ( NCC).
According to him,section 52 does not compel INEC to conduct election electronically, adding that adoption of electronic voting is not sacrosanct in 2023 general election.
