Electronic Transmission
The Senate Minority Caucus on Thursday insisted that the upper chamber of the National Assembly did not reject the electronic transmission of election results in the recently passed Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, pushing back against widespread media reports suggesting otherwise.
Provisions for electronic
The clarification came a day after critics claimed that senators had removed provisions for electronic transmission of results and a 10 year ban on vote buying and other electoral offences from the bill.Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had on Wednesday dismissed the reports as misleading, stressing that the chamber retained electronic transmission as provided under the 2022 Electoral Act to avoid legal and operational ambiguities.
Speaking to journalists
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the caucus was compelled to clear the misunderstanding following confusion over Wednesday’s plenary.Abaribe said, “Since yesterday, the media has been awash with reports suggesting that the Senate rejected the electronic transmission of election results. That is not correct.
Senate approved
To put the record straight, the Senate did not, I repeat, did not reject electronic transmission of results as provided for in the 2022 Electoral Act.” He explained that the Senate approved real time electronic transmission of results and that this was clarified on the floor by Akpabio.
“When it appears that our actions have been misunderstood, it becomes necessary to clarify exactly what happened,” Abaribe added, underscoring the trust placed in senators by their constituencies.
How Electronic Transmission Was Preserved
According to Abaribe, the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on electoral matters had held multiple retreats with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and civil society organisations, where all parties agreed that electronic result transmission was essential.
Electronic transmission
“At the end of those retreats, everyone agreed that electronic transmission of results was the way to go. That position was reflected in the reports presented to both chambers,” he said.Following committee reports, an ad hoc committee, chaired by Senator Sadiq Umar, reviewed outstanding issues, including electronic transmission, during a closed door executive session.
ALSO READ : Senate’s Rejection Of E-Transmission A Threat To Democracy – Osuntokun
All outstanding issues
The closed session was held to tidy up all outstanding issues so that when we returned to plenary, the bill could be passed without rancour,” he explained. Abaribe said electronic transmission was indeed passed and contained in Section 65 of the bill, but that floor movements and noise may have created a misleading impression.
Senate President Akpabio
“At plenary yesterday, we passed the electronic transmission of results. However, because of movement and noise in the chamber, it appeared to some that something went wrong,” he said.He noted that video records confirm Senate President Akpabio affirming that the provision was approved.
Single document for presidential assent
Abaribe clarified that a harmonisation committee was established to reconcile differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill.The role of the harmonisation committee is to reconcile differences between both versions and produce a single document for presidential assent,” he said.However, he stressed that the Senate has not yet adopted the Votes and Proceedings, a procedural requirement before the harmonisation process can begin.
Formally adopted
“After plenary yesterday, we adjourned without adopting the votes and proceedings. Under our rules, harmonisation cannot begin without that step,” he explained.Once the votes are formally adopted, the harmonisation panel will meet to decide whether to adopt the House version, the Senate version, or elements of both.Abaribe maintained that support for electronic transmission cuts across party lines, framing it as a core democratic reform essential for transparent, free, and fair elections.
Electronic transmission in the final bill
He said, “This is not a party matter. Senators across party lines agree on this because transparent, free, and fair elections are the foundation of democracy. If results are not transparent or the process is distorted, then it is not a democracy.”
On questions about the ad hoc committee’s role alongside standing committees, the caucus said the Senate retains the right to regulate its internal processes and that members were present to clarify matters during deliberations.
The minority caucus concluded by reiterating that no lawful harmonisation can occur until the Senate adopts the Votes and Proceedings confirming electronic transmission in the final bill.