Senate Makes U-Turn On Electronic Transmission Of Results

The All Progressives Congress-led Senate has made a U-turn on its earlier rejection of electronic transmission of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In July, senators of the APC had voted against electronic transmission of results on the grounds that only 43% of the country has effective telecommunications coverage.

The APC senators had voted in support of an amendment made to the draft of the Electoral Act Amendment bill which provides that “INEC may consider electronic collation of results, provided the national network coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secured by the Nigerian Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly.”

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, had ruled in favour of the amendment which subsequently drew backlash from Nigerians.

But at its plenary on Tuesday, the Senate reversed its earlier decision which compelled INEC to seek approval from the NCC before transmitting election results electronically.

The reversal followed the consideration and approval of a motion on “Re-Commital of Some Clauses of the Electoral Act repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2021” presented at the plenary by Senate Majority Leader, Senator Abdullahi Abubakar.

The original draft of the bill had empowered INEC to determine voting at election and transmission of results, including electronic voting.

THE WHISTLER reports that the Senate’s decision to revert to the initial arrangement may not be unconnected to the backlash it received over the last amendment.

Meanwhile, the Senate Majority Leader, had while presenting the motion for review of clauses in the Electoral Act repeal and re-enactment bill 2021, said clauses 43, 52, 63, and 87 in the bill needed to be addressed.

“Senate accordingly rescinds it’s decision on the affected clauses of the bill as passed and re-commit same to the committee of the whole for consideration and passage,” Abubakar had said.

Clause 52, subsection 2, now provides that, “Subject to section 63 of this Bill, voting at an election and transmission of results under this Bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Commission, (INEC) which may include electronic voting.”

Also, the Senate approved direct primaries for the nomination of candidates by political parties for elections.

It amended Clause 87 to now read, “a political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this bill shall hold direct primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which shall be monitored by the Commission.”