…as APC Senators Rejects Electronics Voting
BENIN CITY – The Nigerian Senate on Thursday, voted along party lines on a clause 53 subsection 3 of the Electoral Act Amendments Bill, 2021.
The clause which empowers the Nigeria Communication Commission, NCC to approve the electronic transmission of results subject for the approval of National Assembly, before any certified results can be transmitted.
This followed an amendment to what has been approved earlier by the committee, saying that the results can be transmitted electronically, only when and where is practicable.
But Senator Sabi Abdullahi (APC), Niger state sought for its amendment, giving power to NCC to approve electronic transmission of results subject to National network for such transmission to be made.
The amendment threw the red chamber into chaos and disarray, which lasted for several minutes.
Seeing how tense the sitting was, the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan called for a close door.
After the closed door meeting, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe invoked order 73 subsection 1 of the Senate Standing which give power to the Senate to divide the Senate on rulings that does not go down well with some senators; insisting that there should be division of votes. Saying that”Nigerians needs to know what voted or not”.
The Senate President expressed his concern that, there is no network coverage in most communities where votes would be cast. Stating that it would be unfair to disenfranchise some people.
Ahmad Lawan therefore gave approval for the voting, where the lawmakers voted along party lines with the APC senators taking the majority votes.
One hundred and Eight Senators voted. Twenty-eight gave assent to the electronic transmission while Fifty-two were against it.
