The Senate Minority Caucus has pushed back against reports claiming lawmakers rejected electronic transmission of election results, insisting the upper chamber actually upheld the provision while passing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and acted to correct what it described as widespread public misunderstanding.
The caucus said the controversy followed intense public criticism suggesting senators voted against key electoral safeguards, including electronic result transfer and tougher penalties for vote buying, prompting opposition lawmakers to stress that the chamber never abandoned digital transmission measures already recognised in existing legislation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio had earlier dismissed the circulating claims as inaccurate, maintaining that legislators preserved electronic transfer as contained in the current electoral framework, a clarification he said was important to prevent confusion over legal interpretation and operational procedures.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday about reactions to Wednesday’s plenary, former Senate Minority Leader Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said the caucus intervened to address misconceptions, declaring, “Since yesterday, the media has been awash with reports suggesting that the Senate rejected the electronic transmission of election results. That is not correct.”
Abaribe added, “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,” explaining that committee reports endorsed digital transmission after consultations involving the electoral commission and civil society participants.
He outlined a review process that included joint committee retreats, public hearings and further scrutiny by an ad hoc panel chaired by Senator Sadiq Umar, saying members agreed electronic transmission was a central element and later resolved outstanding issues during a closed executive session.
According to him, senators ultimately approved the provision at plenary, noting, “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,” while video records showed confirmation from the presiding officer.
The caucus said the harmonisation committee would reconcile differences between Senate and House versions of the bill after adoption of votes and proceedings, with Abaribe emphasising, “Only after that can the harmonisation committee meet. At harmonisation, you either adopt the House version or the Senate version — nothing else,” and reiterating cross party support for transparent elections.
