By Solomon OKPO
The Senate has dismissed reports suggesting that it rejected the electronic transmission of election results during consideration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, describing such claims as misleading and inaccurate.
Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, made the clarification shortly after the upper chamber passed the bill following a marathon session that lasted about four and a half hours.
The controversy arose from the consideration of an amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the bill, which commenced around 2:00 pm and ended at about 6:26 pm. The prolonged deliberation triggered speculation on social media that lawmakers had voted against the mandatory electronic transmission of results from polling units.
Reports circulating online claimed that the Senate rejected a proposal that would have compelled presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit election results electronically, in real time, from each polling unit to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal after signing and stamping the prescribed result forms.
However, Akpabio firmly refuted the claims, stressing that the Senate did not remove electronic transmission from the law.
“Distinguished colleagues, the social media is already awash with reports that the Senate has literally rejected electronic transmission of results.
That is not true,” Akpabio said. “What we did was to retain the electronic transmission which has been in the Act and was used in 2022.”
He urged senators and the public not to be swayed by misinformation, noting that the provision for electronic transmission remains part of the law.
“So please, do not allow people to confuse you. If you are in doubt, we will make our final votes and proceedings available to you if you apply,” he added.
The Senate President further emphasized that under his leadership, the Senate would not roll back electoral reforms,
particularly those aimed at enhancing transparency and credibility.
“This Senate under my watch has not rejected the electronic transmission of results. It is in my interest as a participant in the next election for such to be done. We have retained what was in the previous provision by way of amendment.
The previous provision made allowance for electronic transmission, and it is still there as part of our law. We cannot afford to be going backwards,” Akpabio stated.
His intervention was aimed at calming public concerns and correcting what he described as deliberate or careless misrepresentation of the Senate’s action, as the National Assembly continues work on amendments to the Electoral Act ahead of future elections.
